GOUROCK SEX OFFENDER WHO PREYED ON GIRL, 14, IS JAILED
A SEX offender who preyed on an underage girl for his own gratification was jailed for 19 months after a judge rejected a plea to spare him a custodial sentence.Andrew Rice, from Gourock, met the victim on three occasions when sexual activity took place despite the child telling him that she was 14 years old and initially stating she did not want to have sex.
Yesterday at the High Court in Edinburgh a judge told Rice: "This is a serious charge.
It carries a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment." Lord Scott said the law existed to protect children from sexual activity when they were too young.
The judge told Rice, 21, that he was frank enough to admit that he was solely motivated by obtaining sexual gratification in the offending.
He read a victim impact statement prepared by the teenager, who is now 17, and added: "She explains how what you did continues to affect her.
She suffers from anxiety and panic attacks." The victim also indicated that it had impacted her education.
The judge said that in the whole circumstances of the case, and in particular the gravity of the charge, a custodial sentence was necessary to punish the offender and to deter others from such behaviour.
He told Rice that he would have faced a two year jail term but for his guilty plea in the case.
Rice earlier admitted that on various occasions between March 26 and 29 in 2023 within a motor vehicle at places in Greenock he engaged in sexual activity with the girl.
The court heard that the first offender, who was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, was aged 18 at the time of the sex offending against the girl.
The judge was told that Rice has expressed remorse and has apologised for his actions and was aware of the difficulties caused for the victim.
It was argued that Rice, formerly of Broomberry Drive, could be dealt with by a community-based disposal rather than a custodial sentence, but this plea was rejected.
Lord Scott told Rice that following his sentencing he would be placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
The judge also made a non harassment order prohibiting from contacting or attempting to contact the teenage victim.
