Hawick pervert repeatedly asked girl, 11, for indecent pictures

Author: Ally McGilvrayPublished 14th Aug 2023
Last updated 14th Aug 2023

A Hawick pervert who asked an 11-year-old girl for a topless picture and told her she was "hot", has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Paul Devins told the youngster he was 28-years-old when in fact he was 48, after messaging her on photo and video sharing website Instagram.

He 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 today (Monday) 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".

Sheriff Peter Paterson noted Devins previous convictions and deferred sentence for background reports. The case is due to recall on September 25th.

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