ABERDEEN MAN MICHAEL BARBOUR CONVICTED FOR SEXUAL COMMUNICATION WITH DECOYS IN SHOCKING CASE

Michael Barbour, a 56-year-old resident of Aberdeen, has been found guilty of engaging in inappropriate and sexually explicit online communications with individuals he believed to be teenage girls. The case came to light after paedophile hunter groups successfully identified and confronted him during an online investigation. These groups had set up social media accounts posing as minors, and during their interactions, Barbour was observed requesting explicit images and videos from the decoys, which included both minors and adults. The investigation revealed that between October and November of the previous year, Barbour contacted three different decoy accounts. One of these accounts was operated under the name "Jordanna," claiming to be just 14 years old, while the other two claimed to be 12 and 14 years old respectively. Despite being explicitly informed of the decoys' young ages, Barbour persisted in discussing sexual acts and continued to request images, demonstrating a clear disregard for their age and the nature of the interactions.

Members of the paedophile hunter group eventually confronted Barbour at his residence in Aberdeen, which led to his immediate arrest. During police questioning, he admitted to engaging in conversations with children online and expressed concern about the potential legal consequences, asking, "Will I be jailed for this?" His guilty plea was entered on charges related to contact and communication for sexual gratification, as well as possession of a mobile phone in breach of bail conditions. The court proceedings highlighted the seriousness of his actions, despite his lack of prior criminal record.

In sentencing, the court ordered Michael Barbour to serve a community payback order for a period of three years. Additionally, he was mandated to complete 200 hours of community service and participate in a specialized sex offenders program. To ensure ongoing monitoring and public safety, he was also placed on the sex offenders register for five years. The case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and community groups to combat online sexual exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from predatory behavior.