RUTHERGLEN CHILD SEX PREDATOR IAN BELL BREAKS COURT INTERNET BAN IN EAST KILBRIDE AND RUTHERGLE

In a disturbing case that highlights ongoing concerns about child safety and online predators, Ian Bell, a 49-year-old man with a troubling history of offending, has once again found himself in legal trouble after breaching court-imposed restrictions. Bell, who has previously been convicted of serious sexual offenses involving minors, was caught disregarding a strict internet ban that was part of his sentencing conditions.

Bell’s latest breach occurred in East Kilbride, where he was found to be actively using the internet despite the court’s explicit orders. His previous convictions stem from incidents in Rutherglen and Paisley, where he engaged in predatory behavior online, including sending indecent images and having sexualized conversations with individuals he believed to be minors. His actions led to his placement on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years, an electronic tagging requirement for ten months, and a three-year supervision order that included stringent restrictions on his internet use.

In January of the previous year, Bell appeared before Paisley Sheriff Court, where he was sentenced for his crimes. The court heard that Bell, then residing on Fenwick Drive in Barrhead but now living in Rutherglen, had been convicted of sending indecent images with the intent to cause a child to view them for his own sexual gratification. He also admitted attempting to meet a person he believed to be a minor for the purpose of engaging in underage sexual activity. Sheriff Colin Pettigrew imposed a series of penalties, including a five-year registration on the Sex Offenders’ Register, a ten-month electronic monitoring requirement, and a supervision order with strict internet restrictions.

Despite these measures, Bell’s recent appearance at Paisley Sheriff Court revealed that he had violated the terms of his supervision order. He pleaded guilty to breaching the court’s internet restrictions, which were designed to prevent him from accessing online platforms that could facilitate further offending. The court was informed that Bell had been living in Rutherglen at the time of the breach, specifically on Three Rivers Walk in Westwood, where he was also subject to bans from schools, nurseries, public parks, and play parks, as well as restrictions on using any device capable of accessing the internet.

Details of Bell’s previous offenses include a case from July 2018, when he was caught in an elaborate sting operation conducted by vigilante group Wolfpack Hunters UK. During this operation, Bell was found to be messaging an individual he believed to be a 15-year-old girl named Sarah, and he had arranged to meet her for sex. The group confronted him outside a supermarket, recording the encounter on video. Bell was found clutching a cuddly toy in a plastic shopping bag at the time of his arrest, further illustrating his predatory behavior. The court heard that Bell had been messaging an adult, William Brown, under the mistaken belief that he was communicating with a minor.

In the latest proceedings, Sheriff Colin Pettigrew emphasized the seriousness of Bell’s actions, describing his behavior as “wholly unacceptable.” The sheriff underscored the court’s duty to protect children and expressed disapproval of Bell’s repeated offending, which involved careful planning and anticipation. The court’s decision reflected the societal outrage over such conduct and aimed to reinforce the message that such behavior will not be tolerated. Bell’s breach of the court’s internet restrictions is now subject to further legal consequences, and his case remains a stark reminder of the ongoing threat posed by online predators to vulnerable children and young people.