MAN AVOIDS JAIL FOR CHILD GROOMING ATTEMPT BECAUSE HIS VICTIM WAS FAKE
A 58-year-old man from Fraserburgh, David Buchan, who attempted to meet a supposed underage girl for sexual activity has avoided jail.He traveled to Union Square in Aberdeen to meet a girl he believed was 13 years old.
However, it was revealed that the girl was a fake Facebook profile created by online protection volunteers to trap potential child sex offenders.
Police officers were waiting for Buchan upon his arrival and arrested him.
He was later identified as a commercial fisherman and confessed that he knew the girl was only 13.
During court proceedings at Peterhead Sheriff Court, Buchan pleaded guilty to attempting to "obtain sexual gratification" from the girl between August 6 and November 3 of the previous year, and to arranging to meet her for sex.
The court was informed that Buchan had sent messages to the fake profile, complimenting her eyes and asking if she wanted to be his girlfriend and have sexual intercourse.
He described oral sex in the messages and expressed his desire to perform it.
On the day he arranged to meet her, he told her he would book a hotel and invited her to stay at his house for a week to have sex.
When he arrived at Union Square to meet her, police were instead present, and he was arrested.
Buchan admitted he was aware she was only 13.
His defense argued that his behavior was driven by social isolation and loneliness.
The sheriff acknowledged the severity of the offense but decided not to impose a custodial sentence because the interaction was with a fake profile, not an actual child.
Instead, Buchan was sentenced to a two-year supervision order, placed on the sex offenders register, and was told he could not contact females or persons under 16, and must allow police inspections of his electronic devices.
The penalty is conditioned on strict adherence to these terms, with breach potentially leading to imprisonment.
