A Mearns engineer sent explicit pictures of himself to who he thought was a 13-year-old girl – only to discover it was the police.
James Brown set up an online account on the Pick app, and started chatting to who a Leila Macleod, who he thought was a young teenager.
For more than three weeks last summer, he asked her personal questions and sent explicit pictures of himself – asking for some in return.
Yesterday, Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard that on July 25 last year, Brown wrote: “Just remember our age difference, if anyone found out I would be shot. I would not get shot, I would be arrested though as you are underage.
“You would just get a slap on the wrist, I would get locked in prison.”
He also sent her a naked picture of an underage girl on July 18.
The court that at one point, “Leila” asked him to send a selfie, which he did.
On August 19, police raided his home on High Street, Laurencekirk after receiving intelligence that devices inside were being used to view indecent images.
He was found wearing the same boxer shorts which had appeared in the image sent from his account.
Officers discovered images of boys and girls some of which were estimated to be as young as five on three devices.
The 32-year-old yesterday admitted taking, or allowing, indecent images of children to be taken between October 2008 and August last year.
He further admitted sending messages to someone he believed was 13, engaging in sexualised chat, requesting pictures and sending her indecent image, and another charge relating to sending the naked picture of another underage girl. These offences happened between July and August last year.
Fiscal depute Lixia Sun said: “In total across the images found on three devices there were 18 grade A photos (the most serious), 28 grade B photos and 77 grade C.”
She added that they had been obtained between October 2008 and August last year.
Representing Brown, defence agent George Mathers said he recognised he had a problem.
He said: “He was employed as an engineer for over five years.
“Since this came to light he informed his employers and as a result has lost his job.
“His mother and father are in court today, he lost his girlfriend as a result of this, she is also in court.
“He has recognised that there has been a problem, since September last year has had counselling on a weekly basis.”
Sheriff William Summers placed Brown on the sex offenders register and deferred sentence on him in order to obtain reports.
He will be return to court next month.
