Jail for Dunbartonshire paedophile

A pervert who used a flatmate's Facebook to chat to what he believed to be underage girls has been jailed for 16 months.

Brian Reid, 57, was snared by a vigilante group at his Dunbartonshire home in January last year.

He used a social media page to contact the 'children' and his flatmate was arrested alongside Reid, but later freed.

The flatmate who was described in court as "vulnerable with learning difficulties" moved home after the the word "paedo" daubed outside his home.

Reid pled guilty in July this year to communicating with 'two 14 year-old girls' and having indecent images.

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard was in contact with "decoys" from the vigilante group in February 2018.

Prosecutor Mhairi Alexander said: “Reid made a bet with one that she would enjoy kissing and whoever won could choose a day out of their choice.”

Miss Alexander added: “He said he made these messages from both his and his fllatmate's Facebook accounts.

“Screenshots that were viewed by police was sufficient enough to arrest both men.”

But, Reid later admitted he had acted alone.

He stated: “It’s all me, He's got nothing to do with it.”

The hearing was told more than 400 sick images of children were found on Reid's two laptops.

Lawyer, Pauline McKenzie, defending said Reid “doesn’t want to be like this” and “disappointed with himself.”

Sheriff Norman Ritchie QC placed Reid on the sex offenders register.

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