MARK BAIRD FROM CARLUEKE AND KINROSS CAUGHT IN SEX OFFENDER SCANDAL INVOLVING TEENAGE GIRL AND PUPPY OFFER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Carluke and Kinross, a man named Mark Baird has been convicted and sentenced for attempting to groom a teenage girl through social media and phone contact. The incident, which took place over a span of several hours, involved Baird, aged 24 at the time, engaging in a series of manipulative and sexually explicit conversations with a 14-year-old girl.

According to court records, Baird managed to obtain the young girl’s phone number and initiated contact with her via a social media platform. What began as seemingly innocent chat quickly took a sinister turn as Baird started making increasingly explicit remarks, attempting to lure her into a sexual context. The depute fiscal Robbie Brown explained that during their two-and-a-half-hour conversation, Baird disclosed his own age and expressed awareness that the girl was only 14. In a bid to manipulate her further, he offered to buy her a puppy, a gesture that was intended to entice her into responding favorably to his inappropriate suggestions.

The situation escalated when the girl, recognizing the nature of Baird’s comments, called him a “paedophile” and informed her parents about the interaction. Her parents promptly contacted Police Scotland, who traced Baird’s whereabouts and took appropriate action. The court heard that Baird’s contact was facilitated through social media, specifically Facebook, where he had received a friend request from an unknown individual. His solicitor, John McLaughlin, explained that Baird believed he was contacted by someone who had set up a Facebook account to send him a message requesting his details. McLaughlin also highlighted that Baird has “borderline cognitive function” and has experienced memory issues following a serious accident several years prior.

During the court proceedings at Perth Sheriff Court, Baird admitted to sending sexually explicit communications to the 14-year-old girl on May 22, 2011, at Church Road, Crook of Devon. The court was informed that Baird’s actions were deliberate and predatory. Sheriff Fiona Tait emphasized the importance of ensuring that such offenses do not recur, and she ordered a supervision order for Baird that will last for two years. Additionally, she imposed a conduct requirement that prohibits him from accessing the internet on his computer, aiming to prevent any future attempts at similar misconduct.

This case underscores the ongoing concerns about online grooming and the importance of vigilance among parents, guardians, and law enforcement agencies. The community of Carluke and Kinross will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how Baird’s case influences future measures to protect vulnerable minors from predators operating through digital platforms.