A Moray tradesman who lured teenagers into his car with the promise of free alcohol before coercing them into sexual acts has been jailed.
Alistair Mackintosh, from Forres, abused five girls aged between 13 and 15.
The offences happened over an 11-year period, from June 2006 to July 2016.
And yesterday Elgin Sheriff Court, it emerged the 29-year-old was questioned by police in 2009 after his initial offending was reported, but no charges were brought against him.
Sheriff Chris Dickson described the “serious charges” as requiring an “element of planning” to carry out.
Mackintosh seduced his first four victims between June 2006 and June 2009 by promising to buy the teens alcohol on the condition they drove with him to the shop.
On the way, the tradesman would drive them to secluded locations before encouraging them to take their clothes off, putting his hands in their underwear and having sex with them.
One girl told police that at one point she would go in his car with him “almost every night” and another reported being asked for naked photographs on social media.
After the lewd behaviour stopped in 2009, it restarted again during July 2016 when he picked up a 15-year-old girl in his work van.
The pair swapped phone numbers and she was invited to his home where they had sex.
When the girl told Mackintosh she feared she was pregnant he begged her not to tell anyone – even offering to “pay for the abortion”.
Yesterday, his defence solicitor Mathew O’Neill explained that all the girls were aware that “certain things were happening” during the incidents – but his client now realised they were too young to consent.
He added: “The gap in the offending is significant. At the time he did have discussions with the police when the incidents first arose.
“He was able to change his behaviour and engage in more age-appropriate relationships and was able to recognise that things were not as they should be.”
Mackintosh previously admitted three charges of using lewd, indecent or libidinous practices, two charges of engaging in sexual activity with someone under 16 and a further charge of unlawful sex.
He was jailed for 28 months and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.