Outrage over two year term for man who had 'cybersex' with girl

In a case that is believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland, Neil Ross, 31, was jailed after pleading guilty at Alloa Sheriff Court to lewd and libidinous behaviour.

He got in touch with the girl, of Clackmannanshire, through an internet chat room after filling in an online profile in which he declared himself to be 19.

He performed a sex act on himself as he watched the girl undress and pose in a sexually explicit manner via a live web link.

Ross, of Dennistoun, Glasgow, is thought to be the first person in Scotland to be charged with sexual offences against someone in a different room. Ross was placed on the sex offenders’ register for ten years by Sheriff David Mackie.

Experts said his predatory behaviour was typical of a paedophile grooming his victim for full sex.

Sandra Brown, of the abuse victims’ charity the Moira Anderson Foundation, said the sentence should have been tougher. "We are extremely disappointed in this lenient sentence as Ross clearly set out to dupe this child. We need stronger sentencing and long jail terms for everyone like this," she said.

"It was a horrendous pattern of behaviour. There is evidence of entrapment and grooming here and it’s about time the judiciary took this more seriously."

Jane Jarvie, of Children 1st, said: "This case again shows that while new technology can have great benefits for young people, it also has the potential to put them at risk.

"We have to make sure young people know how to keep themselves safe online."

A spokeswoman for the Internet Watch Foundation said: "This conviction sends a clear message to paedophiles looking to target children online and abuse the supposed anonymity of the internet within online areas such as chatrooms - you can and will be identified and you will be prosecuted."

The Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill, which the Executive hopes will become law by 2006, would make grooming an offence and carry sentencing powers of ten years in jail.

A Scottish Executive spokesperson said: "Although there is no specific statutory offence of grooming in Scotland, there are a number of existing, common-law offences under which a paedophile grooming a victim on the internet can be convicted.

"These include offences under the Telecommunications Act, offences relating to pornography/child pornography, breach of the peace or fraud.

"The criminal law would also come into force if a meeting with a child took place and sexual abuse is committed or attempted.

"However we recognise that Scotland needs new laws to tackle the specific risk from those who use the internet to groom children for abuse.

"That is why the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences Bill which will, among other things, outlaw internet grooming, was made one of our priorities.

"This will supplement ongoing work to improve the protection of children."