Sex offender to be sentenced after asking 'mum' for child abuse images

James McDowell, 28, had been speaking to a police officer acting as a decoy

McDowell was found to have distributed images
Author: Molly TulettPublished 22nd Nov 2024

A man has pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to attempting to obtain sexual services of children, and possession of indecent photographs.

James McDowell, also known as James Spence, used the name P Diddy, and asked a ‘mum’ to send him pictures of child abuse before his ‘wife’ got home.

The 28 year old, who was already on the sex offenders register was instead speaking to a police officer, posing as a decoy.

The court heard McDowall told the decoy that he had an interest in "videos of children being sexually abused."

329 images of girls between 0 and 14 years old found

The decoy told McDowall who went by the username 'CuriousGeorge' that she had "daughters" aged 12 and eight-years-old.

McDowall offered to pay 10 dollars by PayPal to make the children cry including strangulation.

He added that he would pay more for further sexual abuse.

McDowall later said: "Send video of you being mean to her and we can talk.

"Be fast, I have less than one hour before wife and kids are home."

Officers raided McDowall's home and seized his phone which contained images of child exploitation and abuse.

This included 329 still images of girls aged between two and 14-years-old as well as 172 moving images of girls aged between 0 and 14-years-old.

McDowell found to have distributed images

McDowall was also found to have distributed 51 moving images and four images of "extreme pornography" on various chat applications.

He had been found to be using a number of usernames on these apps including "PdDdy14891" and "Ihavewhatuneed".

McDowall also admitted taking or permitting or making indecent photographs of children and distributing indecent photographs of children and extreme pornography.

The charges span between July 2015 and February 2024.

Sentence was deferred pending background reports by Sheriff Michael Hanlon.

McDowall, of Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, was put on the sex offenders register and had his remand in custody continued meantime.

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