A man has been placed on the sex offenders register after he sent his social worker a series of “deplorable” sexual text messages
Robert Hutchison, 56, appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted to sending several messages to the woman over a weekend.
These started out apparently innocently, as Hutchison discussed wallpaper, but became increasingly distressing.
Hutchison has a previous conviction for exposing himself and performing a solo sex act at his window in 2023.
His solicitor, Alannah Comerford, told the court that Hutchison “knows he needs help”.
Woman turned on phone to find sex messages
Fiscal depute Stephanie Cardow told the court that Hutchison was the client of the Aberdeenshire Council social worker and they were in regular contact.
However, on the morning of Monday February 26 last year, the social worker switched on her work mobile phone after the weekend and found several messages.
Three of the messages in her inbox were of an inappropriate nature, the fiscal depute said.
The messages started off with Hutchison discussing his wallpaper, but they soon turned sexual with him telling her he wanted her to carry out a sex act on him and that she wanted her to shave his private parts.
He then repeated the request in another message to the woman.
Hutchison then asked her, “Do you like what you see?” but no image was attached to the message.
“These messages were completely unwanted, and she immediately reported them to her line manager,” Ms Cardow said.
Following this, Hutchison was cautioned and arrested by police.
In the dock, Hutchison pleaded guilty to one charge of sending messages for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification and that were likely to distress or alarm his victim.
‘A man who has issues’
Defence solicitor Alannah Comerford described her client’s actions as “quite clearly shameful behaviour”.
“He does acknowledge that and he is remorseful,” she said, adding: “He fully accepts that his behaviour was regrettable and is linked to his alcohol use.”
Ms Comerford continued: Mr Hutchison is an alcoholic and struggles with his alcohol consumption.
“But he has started again with a different social worker and now the penny seems to have dropped – he’s now doing the work and has started rehab.
“Clearly, he is a man who has issues and could benefit from support – he knows and accepts that he needs help.”
Sheriff William Summers told Hutchison that his “behaviour in sending these messages was deplorable, especially when it’s someone who is trying to help you”.
He said: “Your solicitor is correct that your position is precarious, but I believe there is an alternative to custody here.”
As an alternative to a prison sentence, Sheriff Summers made Hutchison subject to a community payback order with supervision for 12 months and ordered him to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
He also placed Hutchison, of Mackenzie Gardens, Turriff, on the sex offenders register for 12 months.