PORTSOY MAN GEORGE INNES SENTENCED FOR UNDER-AGE SEX OFFENSES IN BANFF

In a case that has shocked the community of Portsoy, George Innes, aged 35, was brought before Banff Sheriff Court to face serious allegations of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl. The incident, which came to light through digital evidence, led to Innes being sentenced to a combination of probation, community service, and registration as a sex offender.

The court proceedings revealed that the disturbing relationship was uncovered after the girl’s mother discovered a graphic image of Innes’s private parts on her daughter’s mobile phone. This discovery was the initial clue that prompted further investigation into the nature of their interactions. Additionally, another photograph found on the same device showed Innes blowing a kiss to the girl, further confirming the inappropriate relationship.

Text messages exchanged between Innes and the girl, retrieved from her mobile phone, painted a troubling picture of their communication. These messages, along with the images, indicated a level of intimacy that was inappropriate given the girl’s age. The girl’s mother, who initially became suspicious after noticing a love bite on her daughter’s neck—an indication that the girl did not have a boyfriend—became increasingly concerned as the evidence mounted.

During the court hearing, the prosecution, led by fiscal depute Raymond O’Brien, detailed how Innes, a joiner by profession, had befriended the girl while she was helping her father at his work site. The relationship persisted even after her father changed employment, with Innes maintaining contact through mobile messages. The girl initially denied any involvement but later admitted to having had sexual intercourse with Innes on one occasion at his residence. Her emotional state was described as hysterical when she disclosed the details, fearing the repercussions for Innes.

Further investigation uncovered a second mobile phone, which Innes had given to the girl. This device contained additional messages and photographs that confirmed the ongoing nature of their relationship. The police interviewed the girl, who confirmed that she and Innes had engaged in consensual sex at his home, a revelation that added gravity to the case.

Innes’s defence lawyer, Debbie Wilson, requested that reporting restrictions be imposed until sentencing, but Sheriff Peter Hammond declined this request. Instead, the court deferred sentencing to allow for a social inquiry report, an assessment of community service options, and a review of the need for a restriction of liberty order. Innes was immediately placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, and a sentencing date was set for July 12, when further penalties and conditions will be determined.