Latest news with #PerthSheriffCourt
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Livestreaming paedo who confessed to grooming more than 10 children dodges jail
David Smith was filmed by vigilante paedophile hunters revealing he was a serial child sex pest after being caught during several sting operations. A paedophile who confessed during a livestream to grooming more than ten children online has dodged a prison sentence. David Smith was filmed by vigilante paedophile hunters revealing he was a serial child sex pest after being caught during several sting operations. Smith was confronted by members of the group and when they asked how many times he had sex chats with children he said: "It must be in double figures." Sheriff William Wood told Smith: "I have had to give very serious thought to sending you to prison. I'm told that prospect has been uppermost in your mind and has rightly caused you concern. "Although you were corresponding with decoys, you weren't to know that at the time. These could have been children who could have been scarred by these exchanges with you. "It is only really because you pled guilty that I'm affording you the opportunity to work in the community. This is your one chance. It is an alternative to custody." He ordered Smith to complete 300 hours unpaid work, and placed him under supervision and on the Sex Offenders Register for three and a half years. The sheriff also imposed a series of conduct requirements on Smith, limiting his online activity and banning him from mixing with other known paedophiles. Smith, 52, used his own name and claimed to be 20 years younger when he sent pictures of his own genitals to girls he believed were 13 and 14. He was unaware he had been duped into communicating with three decoy profiles until the paedo hunters turned up on his doorstep to quiz and film him. Smith had told the 'girls' - who were adults posing as children and using adapted images of themselves for profile pics - that he was "horny" and encouraged them to carry out sex acts. Fiscal depute Jennifer Bairner told Perth Sheriff Court that Smith sent friend requests to the decoy Facebook profiles and claimed he was a hotel worker in his 30s from Scotland. He told one: "It's OK, it will be our secret" after sending a picture of his erect penis. He sent further explicit images after asking the girl if she was at school at the time. At one point he moved the conversation to WhatsApp and sent another picture of his penis to one girl "so you know it's me from this." The grooming of the girls lasted for several months until the vigilante group tracked his home address and turned up on 10 June last year to confront him. "They attended to challenge the accused," Mrs Bairner said. "It was on a Facebook livestream on the Child Protection Team UK. He admitted he was sexually attracted to children." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Asked how many he had communicated with, he replied: "It must be in double figures. I'm sorry I did this. I don't go looking for children. I've not molested any children." Smith, from Perth, admitted three grooming charges as well as a charge of having child pornography showing images of children as young as three years old. Solicitor David Sinclair, defending, said: "He has spent the past month remanded in custody and that has, not surprisingly, been a harrowing experience for him. "He was in protection. He has been subject to levels of pressure and anxiety he has not experienced before in his life. That will continue for some time to come."
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Stripper in court after ‘jiggling bride-to-be's breasts at prosecco & pizza hen party – causing her to run off & vomit'
HEN HELL Stripper in court after 'jiggling bride-to-be's breasts at prosecco & pizza hen party – causing her to run off & vomit' A STRIPPER has gone on trial accused of "jiggling a bride-to-be's breasts" during a performance at her hen party. Stuart Kennedy, who was dressed as a firefighter, had been hired by the woman's sister for the prosecco and pizza bash at the hotel. 3 Stuart Kennedy has been accused of sexually assaulting a bride-to-be Credit: Donald Stewart The 42-year-old allegedly groped the bride's breasts and forced her legs open despite her repeatedly telling him: "No thank you". Advertisement She told Perth Sheriff Court she was in "shock" as Kennedy allegedly waved his crotch "within half a foot" of the woman's face. The hen also said in her evidence she was "cringing away from constantly" and had tried to make clear she was "not a willing participant". She added: "He forced his hands between my thighs to open my legs. I resisted it but I was also frightened by now. His first move was to make me simulate giving him oral sex. "I started comply with him because I didn't know what he was going to do next. He still had his trousers on. He had sewn a fake erection into the crotch. It felt like a bean bag. Advertisement "He was fiddling with the button on my shirt at one point. At my cleavage. There was more grinding against my thigh. I was trying to keep my legs together." She told the court Kennedy "violated" her and licked her nose with her tongue - although she said it was not intentional as he was simulating kissing her. The woman also told how he "jiggled" her breasts and made her drink through a penis-shaped straw during the party in March last year. She said when he at first burst into the luxury hotel in Scotland, she "started crying and panicking" before realising she would have to "grin and bear it". Advertisement But she said after Kennedy allegedly groped her, some of her hens "gasped" and were "all panicking". The woman continued: "When he was not near me I bolted towards the door. "I made it to the bathroom. I was physically sick. I vomited in the toilet. I was crying hysterically and screaming and grabbing my hair." Her middle sister, who paid around £400 to Aberdeen-based AlphaMale Strippers & Butlers to hire Kennedy, said she immediately realised it was a mistake. She told the trial she "one hundred per cent" had regrets about booking the performer. Advertisement But the woman's younger sister later told police Kennedy had done a "Magic Mike sort of thing" and put his legs over the bride-to-be. She said she believed the way the stripper "stormed in" may have "triggered" her sibling and explained she got upset and left when Kennedy started "dry humping" her. The sister continued: "I enjoyed myself and I don't remember anything you wouldn't expect from a stripper at a hen party." Kennedy denies sexually assaulting the woman and causing her to participate in sexual activity by sitting on her, seizing her by the head and restraining her. The trial continues. Advertisement 3 The stripper has denied the charges
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Daily Record
Creep snared by paedophile hunters made chilling confession on livestream
David Smith was confronted by members of the group and when they asked how many times he had sex chats with children he said: "It must be in double figures." A creep who was caught out by vigilante paedophile hunters confessed on a livestream to grooming at least 10 under-age girls. David Smith was confronted by members of the group and when they asked how many times he had sex chats with children he said: "It must be in double figures." Smith, 52, used his own name and claimed to be 20 years younger when he sent pictures of his own genitals to girls he believed were 13 and 14. He was unaware he had been duped into communicating with three decoy profiles until the paedo hunters turned up on his doorstep to quiz and film him. Smith had told the 'girls' - who were adults posing as children and using adapted images of themselves for profile pics - that he was "horny" and encouraged them to carry out sex acts. Fiscal depute Jennifer Bairner told Perth Sheriff Court that Smith sent friend requests to the decoy Facebook profiles and claimed he was a hotel worker in his 30s from Scotland. He told one: "It's OK, it will be our secret" after sending a picture of his erect penis. He sent further explicit images after asking the girl if she was at school at the time. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. At one point he moved the conversation to WhatsApp and sent another picture of his penis to one girl "so you know it's me from this." The grooming of the girls lasted for several months until the vigilante group tracked his home address and turned up on June 10 last year to confront him. "They attended to challenge the accused," Mrs Bairner said. "It was on a Facebook livestream on the Child Protection Team UK. He admitted he was sexually attracted to children." Asked how many he had communicated with, he replied: "It must be in double figures. I'm sorry I did this. I don't go looking for children. I've not molested any children." Smith, from Perth, admitted three grooming charges as well as a charge of having child pornography showing images of children as young as three years old. Sentence was deferred for background reports and Sheriff Simon Collins remanded Smith in custody.
The Advertiser
14-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Sydneysider held over Stone of Destiny 'disturbance'
A man has appeared in court charged with "malicious mischief" following reports a glass case containing the Stone of Destiny in Scotland was broken. It follows an incident at Perth Museum on Saturday afternoon, where visitors reported a man in a kilt attempting to smash through the case containing the ancient artefact, which has long been associated with the monarchy. Police said they had arrested and charged someone following a "disturbance" at the museum, which has the sandstone block as its centrepiece exhibition. On Monday, 35-year-old Arnaud Harixcalde Logan appeared at Perth Sheriff Court facing a single charge of malicious mischief. His address was listed as Sydney, Australia. No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody, with the next appearance due to take place in eight days. In Scots law, malicious mischief is an offence which deals with behaviour which damages or destroys the property of another, similar to vandalism. The artefact, also known as the Stone of Scone, was moved to Perth Museum in 2024 after a 27 million pound ($A55 million) redevelopment. It has been associated with the Scottish and United Kingdom monarchies for centuries. The Stone of Destiny was used in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and also in the coronation of the King in 2023. It was formally returned to Scotland in 1996 to go on display at Edinburgh Castle. A man has appeared in court charged with "malicious mischief" following reports a glass case containing the Stone of Destiny in Scotland was broken. It follows an incident at Perth Museum on Saturday afternoon, where visitors reported a man in a kilt attempting to smash through the case containing the ancient artefact, which has long been associated with the monarchy. Police said they had arrested and charged someone following a "disturbance" at the museum, which has the sandstone block as its centrepiece exhibition. On Monday, 35-year-old Arnaud Harixcalde Logan appeared at Perth Sheriff Court facing a single charge of malicious mischief. His address was listed as Sydney, Australia. No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody, with the next appearance due to take place in eight days. In Scots law, malicious mischief is an offence which deals with behaviour which damages or destroys the property of another, similar to vandalism. The artefact, also known as the Stone of Scone, was moved to Perth Museum in 2024 after a 27 million pound ($A55 million) redevelopment. It has been associated with the Scottish and United Kingdom monarchies for centuries. The Stone of Destiny was used in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and also in the coronation of the King in 2023. It was formally returned to Scotland in 1996 to go on display at Edinburgh Castle. A man has appeared in court charged with "malicious mischief" following reports a glass case containing the Stone of Destiny in Scotland was broken. It follows an incident at Perth Museum on Saturday afternoon, where visitors reported a man in a kilt attempting to smash through the case containing the ancient artefact, which has long been associated with the monarchy. Police said they had arrested and charged someone following a "disturbance" at the museum, which has the sandstone block as its centrepiece exhibition. On Monday, 35-year-old Arnaud Harixcalde Logan appeared at Perth Sheriff Court facing a single charge of malicious mischief. His address was listed as Sydney, Australia. No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody, with the next appearance due to take place in eight days. In Scots law, malicious mischief is an offence which deals with behaviour which damages or destroys the property of another, similar to vandalism. The artefact, also known as the Stone of Scone, was moved to Perth Museum in 2024 after a 27 million pound ($A55 million) redevelopment. It has been associated with the Scottish and United Kingdom monarchies for centuries. The Stone of Destiny was used in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and also in the coronation of the King in 2023. It was formally returned to Scotland in 1996 to go on display at Edinburgh Castle. A man has appeared in court charged with "malicious mischief" following reports a glass case containing the Stone of Destiny in Scotland was broken. It follows an incident at Perth Museum on Saturday afternoon, where visitors reported a man in a kilt attempting to smash through the case containing the ancient artefact, which has long been associated with the monarchy. Police said they had arrested and charged someone following a "disturbance" at the museum, which has the sandstone block as its centrepiece exhibition. On Monday, 35-year-old Arnaud Harixcalde Logan appeared at Perth Sheriff Court facing a single charge of malicious mischief. His address was listed as Sydney, Australia. No plea was entered and he was remanded in custody, with the next appearance due to take place in eight days. In Scots law, malicious mischief is an offence which deals with behaviour which damages or destroys the property of another, similar to vandalism. The artefact, also known as the Stone of Scone, was moved to Perth Museum in 2024 after a 27 million pound ($A55 million) redevelopment. It has been associated with the Scottish and United Kingdom monarchies for centuries. The Stone of Destiny was used in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 and also in the coronation of the King in 2023. It was formally returned to Scotland in 1996 to go on display at Edinburgh Castle.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged after kilt-wearing attacker smashes case holding Scotland's Stone of Destiny
LONDON (AP) — A man from Australia has been charged with 'malicious mischief' for allegedly smashing a glass case holding the Stone of Destiny, an ancient symbol of Scottish nationhood. Arnaud Harixcalde Logan, 35, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday to face the charge, which is similar to vandalism. Logan, whose address was given as Sydney, wasn't asked to enter a plea and was ordered detained until a hearing next week. Police said that they were called to a 'disturbance' at Perth Museum in central Scotland on Saturday, after reports of a kilt-wearing man attempting to smash the case containing the royal rock. The 335-pound (150-kilogram) sandstone block is also known as the Stone of Scone (Skoon) — and was used in the crowning ceremonies of medieval Scottish monarchs at Scone Abbey, near Perth. It was stolen by England's King Edward I in the 13th century and taken to Westminster Abbey in London, where it was installed under the seat of the coronation chair. It has been used in coronations at the abbey ever since — first of English and then of British monarchs The English and Scottish crowns were united under one monarch in the 17th century. The stone's presence in London long irked Scottish nationalists. In 1950, it was stolen from Westminster Abbey by four Glasgow university students, but was returned in time for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. It was given back to Scotland in 1996, 700 years after its seizure, and displayed in Edinburgh Castle, with the understanding that it would return to England for use in future coronations. Sensitivities around the stone meant that it had to be moved to London in secrecy and amid tight security for the coronation of King Charles III in 2023. Last year it was put on display at the newly renovated Perth Museum where, according to the building's website, there are 'a range of 24/7 security measures in place at the Museum to protect this precious object.' Culture Perth and Kinross, which oversees the museum, said the stone wasn't damaged in the incident.
