Hawick pervert who asked girl, 11, for topless picture is jailed
A man from Hawick who asked an 11-year-old girl for a topless picture and told her she was "hot" has today (Monday) been jailed for 15 months.
Paul Devins told the youngster he was 28-years-old after messaging her on photo and video sharing website Instagram in 2021, when in fact he was 48.
The pervert also sent her a picture of a penis and was only caught when the girl's mum discovered his depraved chat, which Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard was "sexual in nature throughout".
Devins, now 50, admitted repeatedly asking to see the girl in a state of undress at his home in Havelock Place in Hawick and elsewhere between May 14, 2021 and August 23, 2021.
He also pled guilty to causing a child under 13 years of age to look at a sexual image; possession of indecent images of children; and taking or permitting to be taken indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children.
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The court heard that Devins - who was told the girl's age - also engaged in "numerous live chat calls" with the youngster, but "the nature of these calls are unknown".
Passing sentence, Sheriff Kevin McCarron warned Devins he had admitted "a very serious charge" and the public, and young girls in particular, needed to be protected from him.
In addition to the jail sentence, Devins - who arrived at court with his bag packed - was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years.
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