Inverness pervert who thought he was asking child for pictures — but was speaking to undercover police officer — gets unpaid work

A man who thought he was communicating with a girl under the age of 13, was actually speaking to an undercover police officer.

Calum Thomson (61) sent sexual written communications to a girl he believed to be called “Lara”, uttered sexual remarks regarding clothing and underwear and asked the “girl” to send images of herself.

It was previously heard at Inverness Sheriff Court that it was the third time Thomson had been arrested for a similar offence and that he had twice participated in a sex offenders’ programme intended to stop this perverted behaviour.

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Thomson, of Bruce Gardens, Inverness, pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate indecently with a child for the purposes of sexual gratification or humiliation.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also placed under supervision for three years and placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for the same period.

Thomson’s defence solicitor noted that he has some learning difficulties.