ANTONY O'HARE FROM FORFAR ESCAPES JAIL AFTER ONLINE SEXUAL PLOT WITH VIGILANTE GROUP IN DUNDEE

A man residing in Forfar narrowly avoided a prison sentence after engaging in a series of disturbing online communications with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. The interactions, which spanned several months, involved explicit messages and graphic sexual images, and were part of an undercover operation conducted by members of the vigilante group Forbidden Scotland, aimed at exposing potential sex offenders.

Antony O'Hare, aged 53 and employed as a warehouse operator, was the subject of this covert operation. The decoy, known as "Zoe Herd," was a fake profile created by the vigilante group to lure individuals seeking inappropriate contact with minors. The court in Dundee was informed that O'Hare was led to believe he was communicating with a young girl, as the profile clearly indicated the age of the decoy from the outset. Despite this, he continued to pursue sexual conversations, even suggesting they could meet in person for sexual contact.

Throughout the online exchanges, O'Hare sent multiple images, including a self-portrait taken at his home, which also showed his dog. He made comments implying a desire to meet and engage in sexual activity, suggesting they could find a private place together. The communication became increasingly explicit, raising serious concerns about his intentions.

The police eventually raided O'Hare's residence, and during the search, he admitted to attempting to communicate indecently with a child between September 2020 and February 2021. He also confessed to possessing indecent images of children as young as five, with the material dating from March 2020 to February 2021. During the raid, O'Hare acknowledged sending the images and stated, "I've been asked for images and I've sent them. I'm not going to lie about it."

The court, presided over by Sheriff Alistair Carmichael, recognized the gravity of the offenses but also noted that O'Hare had no previous convictions. In light of this, the sheriff imposed a sentence of social work supervision for a period of three years. Additionally, O'Hare was banned from having any contact with children and was subjected to strict restrictions on his internet usage to prevent further offenses. The case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and vigilante groups to combat online child exploitation, and the court's decision reflects a balance between punishment and the potential for rehabilitation.