FIFE NHS WORKER ON SEX OFFENDERS REGISTER FOR GROOMING AND EXPLICIT MESSAGING
A convicted sex offender from Fife has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register following his attempt to send inappropriate images to an online decoy posing as a 12-year-old girl.The individual, named Eric Walls, had engaged in sexually explicit messaging for nearly three months after losing his job as a highly skilled NHS theatre operative.
He initially communicated through a decoy account before switching to WhatsApp, where he continued his inappropriate conduct.
Walls, 55 years old, responded inappropriately when the decoy revealed her age, claiming he could be her grandfather.
He sent explicit images of himself and requested indecent pictures, even urging her to delete the images due to their illegal nature.
The vigilante group Child Protection UK set up a sting operation to catch him, which was filmed and publicly viewed over 60,000 times.
Following his arrest, Walls was brought before Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, where he admitted to attempting to communicate indecently to obtain sexual gratification or to humiliate or alarm what he believed was a minor.
The court will sentence him on January 17 after reports are prepared.
Walls has no previous convictions; he previously worked for twenty years at the NHS but had to leave due to health issues related to herniated discs.
His solicitor stated that his low mood and excessive internet use likely contributed to his actions, and he is aware of the sex offender notification requirements he will face.
The sheriff deferred sentencing to allow for reports to be completed, and Walls remains on bail under specific conditions.
