SEX OFFENDER STUNG TEXTING 'TEEN GIRLS' HAD CHILD ABUSE PICS
A man described as a pervert who falsely claimed to be a girl aged around 13 to lure others, saying he wanted to “test drive their mattress” and that they “needed training in playing,” awaits sentencing after he was found to possess the most extreme child abuse images.James Brackenridge admitted to two charges of inciting a person, who was actually an online decoy, to engage in sexual communications, after being caught out by volunteer ‘paedophile hunters’.
The 52-year-old also pleaded guilty to downloading and keeping indecent material, which included highly explicit images and videos that police discovered on his devices following an undercover operation involving several online vigilant groups.
Prosecutors accepted not guilty pleas from Brackenridge for additional charges of possessing extreme pornographic material involving sexual acts with animals such as dogs, pigs, and horses, as well as another charge of sending indecent messages to the decoy.
These were entered during a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, May 20, at Ayr Sheriff Court.
The court was informed that Brackenridge, from Gillsburn Gardens in Kilmarnock, created a Facebook account posing as a 13-year-old from Banbury in May last year.
He received a message claiming the profile was a 13-year-old girl, and that she was from Banbury.
Brackenridge responded by claiming he was much older and from Ayrshire.
He told the decoy he wanted to “test drive their mattress” (meaning to have sex), inquired about her breast size, and asked if she could lift her top to see what was underneath.
He also questioned whether she had received explicit images from males before.
Another individual, acting as a decoy, participated in the chat.
Brackenridge continued the conversation, asking if she’d done more than kiss, and whether she was single.
He suggested they could be boyfriend and girlfriend but warned her not to tell anyone.
He encouraged her to undress and instructed her on how to masturbate, stating, “I think you need training in playing.” Brackenridge’s Facebook profile indicated he resided in Mauchline and claimed to have attended Auchinleck Academy, according to the prosecutor.
Police later arrested Brackenridge, seizing four devices—including a mobile phone, a USB drive, and a laptop—which were examined by cybercrime investigators.
Numerous indecent images of children, both male and female, were found on the devices.
The Crown will also seek a further sexual harm prevention order against him.
Sheriff Mhari MacTaggart stated: “Given the seriousness of the offences to which you have pleaded guilty, I will adjourn proceedings for social work reports.
A copy of the indictment, along with details of the images, will be provided to the social worker.
I will continue your bail, and you will be required to notify authorities of certain details from today.” A future sentencing date will be set.
