NEIL CLARK INVERNESS SEX OFFENDER DEFIES COURT ORDERS AND INTERNET RESTRICTIONS

A 20-year-old man named Neil Clark, who is a convicted sex offender, has once again violated court-imposed restrictions aimed at preventing him from contacting minors and using internet-enabled devices. The incident was brought to light during a hearing at Inverness Sheriff Court, where it was revealed that Clark, currently held on remand at Polmont Young Offenders Institution, had been residing in homeless accommodation within Inverness at the time of the offences.

Clark had previously been subjected to a Sexual Harm Protection Order issued in February of the same year. This order was designed to impose strict limitations on his activities, including restrictions on contacting children under the age of 16 and using certain electronic devices. The order was intended to serve as a safeguard to prevent any further offending behavior. It was overseen and enforced by police authorities and social workers, with a five-year duration set for the order.

However, on March 15, police officers conducted a routine check at Clark’s residence on Church Street in Inverness. During this visit, officers inquired whether he possessed any new electronic devices. Clark initially denied having any, claiming he only owned a Nokia phone. Yet, during the check, police discovered a second Nokia phone in his pocket—one that Clark had not previously disclosed. This discovery raised suspicions that he might be attempting to conceal additional devices that could be used to breach the court order.

Further violations came to light on May 3, when police returned to Clark’s accommodation to verify his compliance with the restrictions. During this visit, Clark claimed he was not contacting any minors without prior approval. Nonetheless, police observed that he appeared nervous after receiving a text message. Upon inspecting his phone, officers found a message addressed to someone called 'Babe,' signed off with kisses, which suggested a flirtatious or possibly sexual communication. The police also checked his message history and discovered that Clark had been engaging in conversations with a girl in Perth for several months. Some of these messages contained flirtatious and sexual content, indicating a clear breach of the court’s restrictions.

During the court proceedings, Clark’s defense lawyer, Laura-Jane McFarlane, stated that she would be requesting a background report on her client, noting that Clark had no prior custodial sentences. The court heard that Clark had admitted to chatting with the girl in Perth and acknowledged the messages. Given the breaches, Sheriff Ian Cruickshank decided to defer sentencing until October 15 to allow for the report to be prepared. In the meantime, Clark was once again placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, reaffirming the court’s concern over his continued violations of the restrictions imposed upon him.