MAN ASKED FOR ‘SEXY’ IMAGE FROM CHILD
A sex offender from Newburgh who inquired about receiving a provocative photo from a girl he believed to be 14 years old has avoided incarceration.Matthew Bristo, who is 50 years old and described as a loner, exchanged messages with a girl he met online before continuing the conversation on WhatsApp.
During the exchanges, he talked about sharing a bed and demonstrated inappropriate interest in her activities.
Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told that Bristo admitted to feeling like a creep at one point but still persisted in communicating with what he thought was a teenage girl.
He made remarks about her being in the bath and commented on her supposed flexibility from gymnastics.
His solicitor explained that his client was overwhelmed and felt he was "caught up in the moment" when police intervened, but he now recognizes his conduct as "disgusting and shameful." Fiscal depute Derek Gardiner revealed that a member of a paedophile hunting group set up a fake profile claiming an 18-year-old girl was using it.
Bristo contacted this account, asked her age, and was told she was 14.
He then claimed to be 27 from Aberdeen.
The chat eventually shifted from the online forum to WhatsApp, where Bristo, naming himself "Matt," sent her personal messages and gave relationship advice.
Later, he said he was actually 31.
He used flirtatious language, calling her “hot” and complimenting her body.
When she mentioned doing gymnastics, Bristo made sexual comments about her body and flexibility.
He then inquired if she was alone and expressed a desire to be with her, even asking her to remove her underwear.
He stated, “I wish I could stay the night,” and said he wanted to “have fun with her” and teach her what to do.
Bristo admitted to feeling like a creep.
Further, he referenced her taking a bath and requested a provocative photo, urging her to “make it a sexy one.” Bristo pleaded guilty to communicating indecently with someone he believed was a child between May 5 and May 7, 2025.
Defence solicitor Gregor Kelly, noted that Bristo, a solitary individual, thought he was engaging with a 14-year-old over three days, and acknowledged that such requests were inappropriate.
He expressed that his client takes responsibility, emphasising that no actual child was harmed or met.
The defense highlighted that Bristo's actions occurred while he was overwhelmed but recognised they were shameful, and he showed genuine remorse.
As an alternative to a prison sentence, the sheriff made Bristo, of Ythan Rise, Newburgh, subject to a community payback order with supervision for three years and ordered him to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
He also ordered Bristo to take part in a sex offenders programme and made him subject to the sex offenders register for three years.
