BALLOCH MAN SENTENCED AFTER SENDING MESSAGES ABOUT CHILD ABUSE
A BALLOCH man who discussed on social media sexually abusing children has been ordered to do the maximum alternative to jail.Jordan Barnes previously admitted possession of indecent images and to sending messages to eight users on the app KiK.
They were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character, discussing sexually abusing children and describing the acts he would carry out on them.
The 29-year-old first offender admitted the crimes that took place between July 2024 and January 2025.
There were a total of 31 indecent images found on his mobile phone, all of the lowest category C.
Barnes, of McGregor Avenue, returned to Dumbarton Sheriff Court on April 7 for sentencing.
Sheriff John McElroy KC put him under social work supervision for two years.
He must also do 300 hours of unpaid work - the maximum possible.
It is a direct alternative to custody.
There will be tight restrictions on his internet use and devices, and he will be on the sex offenders register for two years.
The court will review his progress in August.
—————————————————————————————————— A man has pleaded guilty to discussing sexually abusing children on a social media app.
First offender Jordan Barnes, from Balloch, admitted possession of indecent photos or pseudo-photos of children between July 15, 2024 and January 31, 2025.
The 28-year-old further admitted sending messages to eight users on the app KiK.
They were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character discussing sexually abusing children and describing the sexual acts he would carry out on them.
The Crown accepted a not guilty plea to distributing or showing indecent images.
They also accepted he was not guilty of possession of extreme pornographic images.
Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard on February 3 there was a police search warrant executed at Barnes' home in McGregor Avenue around 8.30am on January 31, 2025.
They recovered a Samsung mobile phone.
Cyber analysis found 31 indecent images of female children, aged between six and 14.
All were of the lowest category C.
About half were inaccessible.
There were messages with other users recovered from conversations on the KiK app on his phone.
Sheriff John McElroy KC said reading further details in open court was unnecessary, saying of the message details, "they're vile".
He told Barnes: "I'm calling for reports on you.
What is contained in the chats is vile." Sentence was deferred to March 3 for reports to be prepared.
He will be on the sex offenders register in the interim.
