Hawick Paedophile Ashley Bell, a 40-year-old man, has been detained in custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court after confessing to the act of trying to engage in indecent communication with a 12-year-old girl.
Ashley Bell initiated contact with his intended target on the Instagram messaging platform, subsequently transitioning the conversation to Snapchat, where communications are automatically erased after viewing.
Despite being told she was getting ready for school and looking forward to her 13th birthday, the court heard Ashley Bell instigated conversations about sex toys, breasts and “spent quite a bit of time” boasting about the size of his manhood.
Subsequently, it was revealed that the individual Ashley Bell had been conversing with was, in reality, an undercover law enforcement agent and their conversation had been meticulously documented.
Ashley Bell confessed to deliberately sending sexually explicit texts to an individual whom he believed to be a child under the age of 13, to derive sexual pleasure or cause humiliation, distress, or alarm.
Ashley Bell, identified as an inmate in Edinburgh, perpetrated the crime at a location in Lovel Court, Hawick, and other places from March 6 to 15.
The sentence was deferred on Ashley Bell until July 31 for background reports, including guidance on post-release supervision
Sheriff Douglas Keir warned him he is likely to receive a custodial sentence in addition to being the subject of the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act.
UPDATE 30.08.24
A 40-year-old man who sought to engage in inappropriate communication with a 12-year-old girl has been sentenced to 12 months in prison and registered as a sex offender for 10 years.
Ashley Bell contacted his intended victim via Instagram direct messaging before transitioning the conversation to Snapchat, where messages are automatically deleted after being viewed.
Notwithstanding her preparations for school and anticipation of her 13th birthday, Jedburgh Sheriff Court was informed that the convicted sex offender initiated discussions regarding sex toys, breasts, and “dedicated considerable time” to boasting about the size of his genitalia.
Subsequently, it was revealed that the individual with whom Bell had been conversing was, in reality, an undercover police officer, and their dialogue had been documented.
Bell, appearing in the dock from detention, confessed to wilfully sending sexually explicit messages via social media to an individual he thought to be a child under the age of 13, with the objective of gaining sexual enjoyment or causing humiliation, distress, or alarm.
Bell, identified as a detainee in Edinburgh, perpetrated the offence at a location in Lovel Court, Hawick, and other sites, between March 6 and 15 of this year.
His sentence was retroactively applied to March 30, the date he was initially remanded in relation to the case.
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