logo
Elgin man who wore nappies and offered girl, 14, money for sex avoids jail

Elgin man who wore nappies and offered girl, 14, money for sex avoids jail

An Elgin man who offered one underage girl cash for sex and another victim images of himself in nappies has been spared jail.
Alex Bruce, 21, contacted his first victim, who was aged just 14, in the spring of 2023.
He flattered her with compliments before offering her money to visit his home and have sex with him.
Bruce went onto target a second girl, sending her videos of him shopping for nappies – and wearing them.
At Elgin Sheriff Court on Monday, almost four months after admitting to his guilt, Bruce was finally sentenced.
Bruce, who had been urged to work with the social-work department to complete background reports into his circumstances, will not serve any time behind bars despite his crimes.
Instead, for the next three years, he will be under the supervision of the social work department.
He will be made to complete any programmes the department staff see as necessary for his rehabilitation.
Bruce, of Mossend Place, will also be under a conduct requirement during that period. which will monitor whether his behaviour is good.
He was also made subject to the sex offenders notification requirement.
This will force him to inform the police of any changes of address or name over the same period.
Bruce's crimes had been laid bare in February when he appeared in court and admitted two charges related to his actions between the dates of April 1 and June 8, 2023.
The first charge was sending an older child sexual written communications.
The second charge was repeatedly sending an older child videos of himself and asking her to send an intimate image of herself.
Fiscal depute Karen Poke revealed that, among his request for sex and messages to the victims, he would also send one girl images of himself urinating while in nappies.
The court heard there were also pictures of himself in women's underwear, including a lace body suit and pictures of what he himself described as his 'thong collection'.
Bruce would ask the girl to send him back illicit images of herself.
Of the first girl receiving these messages, Ms Poke said: 'Initially, she and the accused communicated with each other on Snapchat.
'It turned sexual, the accused telling the witness she was 'pretty gorgeous' and 'beautiful'.
'The accused asked her if she would go round to his house.'
Bruce then offered the girl £50 for sex, said Ms Poke.
Bruce's second victim also received a friend request on Snapchat, where he began making contact with her, before sending her the videos and images.
Ms Poke said that, when one of the girls asked Bruce why he had filmed the urination videos, 'he told her he thought it was funny.'
Matthew O'Neill, Bruce's defence solicitor, had told the court his client had 'learning difficulties in the background' at a previous hearing.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Mass shooting' thwarted at Michigan high school graduation; one suspect arrested, another at large, officials say
'Mass shooting' thwarted at Michigan high school graduation; one suspect arrested, another at large, officials say

NBC News

time7 hours ago

  • NBC News

'Mass shooting' thwarted at Michigan high school graduation; one suspect arrested, another at large, officials say

What began as a fist fight at a high school graduation in Michigan on Tuesday has turned into a search for a 20-year-old suspect in what officials are calling a prevented mass shooting attempt. Oakland County authorities are searching for 20-year-old Jamarion Jaryante Hardiman — who is currently on probation for a weapons offense — in connection with the attempt at the Arts and Technology Academy of Pontiac (ATAP) graduation, Sheriff Michael Bouchard announced in a press conference on Friday. Another 19-year-old suspect is in custody, whose identity is not being released until charges are filed. Bouchard said the 19-year-old suspect also has a criminal history involving weapons. Oakland County Sheriff deputies were initially dispatched at 6:40 p.m. to the graduation held at the United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) property for a fight. A person approached deputies at the scene and informed them a family member had seen a threat posted on Snapchat to shoot up the ceremony, Bouchard said. Authorities are not sure of the post's specific wording, as it has been taken down, but witnesses said it was along the lines of "was going to shoot up the crowd," Bouchard said. The two suspects, both Pontiac residents, were identified as individuals who were part of the fight and had been seen putting packages under cars in the parking lot when authorities arrived, according to Bouchard. Working with the UWM security team and their camera system, officials recovered two fully-loaded weapons at the scene. Each weapon also had a 40-round magazine. "So just those two weapons without changing magazines, had 80 rounds of potential firepower," Bouchard said. "Shooting into a graduation, you can only imagine the outcome of that." One of the suspects, who Bouchard did not specify, was carrying a pink, AR-style pistol with the loaded magazine in a backpack that was stashed under a vehicle when officers arrived. The other weapon recovered was a Glock semi-automatic handgun with a 40-round stick magazine. It is unknown if the suspects once attended the charter school, but Bouchard said they did have friends and relatives at the graduation and "ongoing disputes with individuals in the community." The sheriff said the motive behind the attempted shooting is unclear. The other parties involved in the disputes are not cooperating with authorities, according to Bouchard. "While a brief physical altercation did take place inside the venue, it was quickly handled by staff and security, and those involved were promptly removed," the school wrote in a social media post. "Thankfully, no one within the ceremony was harmed, and we were able to continue and complete our beautiful commencement celebration without further disruption." The 19-year-old suspect fled the scene, but was found after the graduation. Bouchard said he is 'confident' Hardiman will be located. Authorities are asking anyone with information regarding Hardiman's whereabouts to call 911. Bouchard advised community members not to try to apprehend or approach the suspect. When asked by reporters if Bouchard had anything to say to Hardiman, he replied: 'Turn yourself in. One way or another we're going to get you. Make it easier on yourself and the community.'

Every parent's nightmare as respected teacher exposed as paedophile who preyed on young girls
Every parent's nightmare as respected teacher exposed as paedophile who preyed on young girls

Wales Online

time10 hours ago

  • Wales Online

Every parent's nightmare as respected teacher exposed as paedophile who preyed on young girls

Every parent's nightmare as respected teacher exposed as paedophile who preyed on young girls Simon Clark posed as a teenage boy on Snapchat to groom his victims into sending him naked images Simon Clark, 46, formerly of Ellesmere Port but now of no fixed address, was jailed for eight years with four more years on licence after admitting child sex offences (Image: Cheshire Police ) He was a highly respected French teacher. Simon Clark was head of department at Alun School in Mold, with a family at home. But the 46-year-old was harbouring a sickening secret. Clark was posing as a teenage boy on Snapchat in order to entice girls into sending him sexual images. Chester Crown Court heard he preyed on 26 youngsters, aged as young as 10. The father-of-two's wife has since divorced him, his career is over, and he is now behind bars. A judge today sentenced him to eight years in prison, with a further four years to be spent on licence. The paedophile teacher kept his head bowed as he was jailed. The court today [Friday] heard Clark pretended to be a 14-year-old boy using a fake Snapchat profile with the name 'Jamie_jones6968' to send hundreds of explicit messages to girls, persuading some to send sexual images in return. Don't miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here . Judge Simon Berkson said he had no doubt his offending would have continued if he hadn't been stopped after the mother of one victim noticed an unknown man had asked her daughter for a naked photograph and reported him to police. Article continues below It was every parent's nightmare, he said. Simon Clark, 46, of no fixed address, outside Chester Crown Court where he admitted 29 child sex offences The case against Clark began in January, 2023, when police in North Wales were contacted by the concerned parent. Initial enquires suggested that the suspect was living in the Cheshire area, so the case was passed to Cheshire Police. An investigation was subsequently launched by detectives from the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team (OCAIT) at Cheshire Police and during their enquiries officers established that Clark was the suspect in the case. A warrant was conducted at his home in May, 2023, and four devices were seized from the address. During subsequent analysis officers discovered that Clark had been posing as a teenager using the Snapchat account. The judge said the truth must have come as a "terrible shock" to the victims and their families. He branded Clark a "dangerous" offender. Clark was given an eight year term, with four more years on licence on his release, for inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity. The remaining jail terms, which are all concurrent, range from 40 months to four months. Clark also received concurrent sentences of eight months, four months and four weeks for making indecent images in categories A, B and C. The judge told the defendant he represented a 'significant risk' to children. Judge Berkson said: 'It is, of course, every parent's worst nightmare, this sort of thing happening to their children. 'Many of the offences involve sexual communication, some involving inciting children to engage in sexual activity. This was well planned and sophisticated criminal behaviour. 'You clearly have a sexual interest from the sexual abuse of children and gain sexual gratification from it.' Clark's barrister, Jeremy Rawson, referred to a "black side" to him. He said: "He has lost everything as a result of this. "There's a black side to his character which is unrestrained and he gave into it and he bitterly regrets it." He went on: "It's a terribly sad case. It's sad for those children whose trust has been abused. It's sad for the parents of those children whose trust has been marred by this man. "On the other side of the coin, this is a man who had a future, who had responsibilities and who had an education." When he goes into custody then comes out he will have to "start again from nothing". ‌ Clark admitted 29 charges in total. He admitted one count of inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity, two of inciting a child under 13 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity and two counts of inciting a child under 16 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity. He also admitted 21 counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child under 16, making 26 indecent images of children of Category A, making 29 indecent images of children of Category B and making 81 indecent images of children of Category C. Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Louise Murphy and Detective Constable Megan Griffiths, who led the investigation, said: 'Firstly, we would like to praise the victims in this case for the bravery and courage that they have shown throughout this investigation. ‌ "Clark was a teacher, he held a position of trust, and the messages we recovered clearly showed that he was well aware that his victims were all under the age of 16, but despite this he continued his crimes in order to satisfy his own warped sexual desires. 'It was apparent throughout the investigation that Clark is a sexual predator who preyed on young girls, with no regard for the effects his actions would have on the victims or their families. 'While they will never be able to forget what he did, we hope the sentence handed to Clark will provide the victims with some closure and allow them to move forward with their lives.' ‌ An NSPCC spokesperson said: 'As a teacher Clark had a duty to keep children safe. 'Instead for seven years he posed as a teenage boy on a social media platform, using his fake profile to target and groom young girls before persuading them to send naked images of themselves. 'This kind of sexual abuse can have a devastating impact on the victims and it is vital all the children involved in this case have access to the support they need to move forwards with their lives. Article continues below 'This case also highlights the need for social media sites to be doing much more to protect children and prevent offenders like Clark from using their platforms to carry out their crimes.'

Ellesmere Port: Ex-teacher jailed over child sex offences
Ellesmere Port: Ex-teacher jailed over child sex offences

Leader Live

time11 hours ago

  • Leader Live

Ellesmere Port: Ex-teacher jailed over child sex offences

Simon Clark, who is of no fixed abode from Ellesmere Port and head of department at the Alun High School, in Mold, preyed on 26 youngsters, aged between 10 and 15, Chester Crown Court heard. The 46-year-old, whose wife has since divorced him and his career ended, has 'lost everything', the court heard. He kept his head bowed as he was jailed. Clark pretended to be a 14-year-old boy using a fake Snapchat profile with the name 'Jamie_jones6968' to send hundreds of explicit messages to girls, persuading some to send sexual images in return. Passing sentence, Judge Simon Berkson told the defendant he represented a 'significant risk' to children. Judge Berkson said: 'It is, of course, every parent's worst nightmare, this sort of thing happening to their children. 'Many of the offences involve sexual communication, some involving inciting children to engage in sexual activity. This was well planned and sophisticated criminal behaviour. 'You clearly have a sexual interest from the sexual abuse of children and gain sexual gratification from it.' Clark, formerly of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, had admitted at earlier hearing to 29 offences; one count of inciting a child under 13 to engage in penetrative sexual activity, two counts of inciting a child under 13 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity, two counts of inciting a child under 16 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity, 21 counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child under 16, one count of making 26 indecent images of children of Category A, one of making 29 indecent images of children of Category B and one of making 81 indecent images of children of Category C.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store