An award-winning chip shop owner has admitted sex offences against a teenage girl.
Simon Harkai, who runs The Happy Haggis in Aviemore, pled guilty at Inverness Sheriff Court yesterday to possessing indecent images of the 14-year-old, as well as inducing her to engage in sexual activity by kissing another teenage girl in the shop.
Sentence was deferred on first offender Harkai, 41, of Craig-An-Darach, High Street, Kingussie, until April 17 after Sheriff Margaret Neilson ordered a background report.
He was placed on the sex offender’s register and bail was continued.
Fiscal depute Roderick Urquhart told the court the 14-year-old girl was frequently in the shop and that she and Harkai became involved in “banter” which then became flirtatious.
Mr Urquhart said: “On one occasion, an older girl of 17 was also in the shop and took photos on Mr Harkai’s phone of the younger girl exposing her breasts. A total of seven pictures were retained on his phone.
“On another occasion, Simon Harkai took the two girls into his office in the shop and asked what they would do for him.
“They kissed each other on the mouth. The incidents came to light when the child’s mother confiscated her phone for being bad.
“She was concerned by what she found on the phone and phoned the police.”
Defence advocate Lorenzo Alonzi reserved his remarks until the report was available.
Mr Harkai pleaded not guilty to taking indecent photographs of the 14-year-old and sending her text messages requesting that she engage in sexual activity with him were accepted.
He also pleaded not guilty to making sexual remarks and causing her to look at a sexual image of a woman’s naked breasts were accepted.
All Mr Harkai’s not guilty pleas were accepted by Mr Urquhart.
He and his 26-year-old wife, Amanda, were also charged with possessing an obscene bestiality image.
Their pleas of not guilty to that charge were also accepted by the Crown.
