STUART SMITH FROM EASTER ROSS ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING TEENS IN ALNESS

In a case that has drawn significant attention in the Easter Ross region, Stuart Smith, a 21-year-old man from Alness, has been sentenced for his involvement in multiple sexual offenses against underage girls. The incidents, which spanned several years, began when Smith was just 17 years old and continued until he was 19, involving a series of troubling encounters with teenage girls he met through social networking platforms.

Smith, who works as a mechanic, was found guilty of four charges of unlawful sexual intercourse. The court proceedings revealed that the offenses started in 2007, with the last known meeting occurring in 2010. Despite the gravity of his actions, Smith was not sentenced to prison. Instead, he was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid community service and was placed on probation for a period of three years.

During the sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Lord Turnbull made a notable decision not to include Smith on the sex offenders register. The judge explained that two of the girls involved could have faced charges themselves, which influenced this decision. The court heard that Smith had used social media, specifically the Bebo platform, to initiate contact with the underage girls. He reached out to two of them directly through the site, while another girl was contacted via a mutual friend. Additionally, one girl was met at a bus stop near Smith’s residence.

Prosecutor Alastair Carmichael outlined how the police investigation into Smith’s activities was triggered by inquiries into a separate matter. Interestingly, none of the girls involved had initially reported the incidents to the authorities, which delayed the discovery of the offenses. The court detailed the disturbing nature of the interactions, including messages and exchanges of photographs and intimate texts.

One of the victims, a 14-year-old girl, received a message from Smith on Bebo asking for her mobile number. They arranged to meet at Invergordon showground, which led to a brief relationship lasting approximately four months in 2007. The relationship ended after a dispute, during which the girl claimed Smith had made her pregnant and discovered photos of other girls on his mobile phone.

Another girl, aged 13 at the time, was targeted through Bebo, where she received messages from Smith complimenting her appearance. The two exchanged photos and intimate texts before planning a meeting in July 2010, when Smith was 19. A third girl, aged 15, met Smith through a mutual friend when he was 18. Their interactions included chatting, watching DVDs together, and ultimately engaging in sexual activity in a private room.

The fourth girl involved was only 13 years old when she was approached by Smith at a bus stop near his home following a party. This incident further underscored the disturbing pattern of Smith’s behavior, which the court described as predatory and exploitative. The case has raised concerns within the local community about safeguarding and the protection of vulnerable minors in the Easter Ross area.