A pervert told an undercover cop posing as a 12-year-old girl online that he wanted to get her “out of her school uniform”.
Robert Campbell, 60, fell into the trap when he added what he thought was a 12-year-old girl called Sasha on social media.
The officer strung Campbell, of Clerkhill Road, Peterhead, along for more than a month, gathering more evidence as he sent a catalogue of vile sexual messages.
Fiscal depute Lucy Simpson told Aberdeen Sheriff Court the profile was set up by an officer as part of a covert operation targeting online sexual exploitation.
The court heard “Sasha” was first engaged in conversation on a chat site by Campbell on December 18. Ms Simpson said “Sasha” advised she was younger, saying: “I’m nearly 13, it’s my birthday soon.”
Campbell replied, saying: “Happy birthday when it comes.”
However, the communication soon became sexual and they spoke over the phone as well.
Ms Simpson said: “The accused spoke about wanting to get her out of her school uniform.”
Police raided Campbell’s address in March while he was at home with his wife and seized a mobile phone, laptop and iPad.
The fiscal depute said when he was interviewed Campbell stated he’d “never actually have sex with a child”.
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He pled guilty to attempting to communicate indecently with a younger child and sending the officer he believed was a 12-year-old girl “indecent communications” by speaking with her on the phone and sending written communications of a sexual nature.
The offence took place between December 28 and January 27.
Sheriff Andrew Miller described the matter as of a “very serious nature” and deferred sentence on Campbell until next month for reports.
Defence agent Andrew Ormiston reserved mitigation for the sentencing hearing.
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