A Sea Cadet who groomed a schoolgirl and persuaded her to “pull a sickie” so they could meet up has been spared a custodial sentence.
Lewis Hall groomed the 12-year-old girl with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with her.
The 18-year-old arranged for the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to travel from her home 150 miles away to Inverness to visit him.
But his plan was foiled when the girl’s parents called to find out where she was after being alerted she had not turned up at school.
Yesterday Hall, who previously admitted the offence, was placed on a three-year supervision order. His mobile, computer and tablet will be checked every 28 days by police.
He was also sentenced to 240 hours of unpaid community work and ordered to take part in a sex offender’s programme.
At a hearing last month, Hall admitted making arrangements – while knowing the girl was underage – for her to travel to his home with the intention of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with her, or in her presence, on May 29 last year.
The sea cadet – who was a petty officer, the most senior position a youth can hold – was 17 at the time.
Defence lawyer John MacColl told the court yesterday it had been a “a monumental error of judgement” by Hall, of 23 Rosehaugh Road, Inverness.
He added: “He acted completely inappropriately. He was 17 at the time and a relatively naive and immature young man. It was not his intention to have full sexual intercourse with her but it was his intention to engage in sexual activity with her.
“He commits to me that he will not get into trouble again.”
The court previously heard that Hall had made arrangements for the girl to visit him.
When her frantic parents called to find out where she was after being alerted about her absence from school, she claimed she was going to visit a friend in hospital. They called the police, who picked her up at Inverness Railway Station.
Fiscal depute Stewart Maciver previously said the sea cadet and the girl had been messaging via social media.
The court heard the relationship was uncovered when, in January last year, the girl and her brother swapped phones and he spotted messages from Hall to his sister, some referring to her as “baby”.
Mr Maciver said a subsequent investigation found a number of text messages exchanged on May 21 last year referring to “cuddling”.
Another from Hall urged the youngster to “pull a sickie” from school to come and visit him. It was arranged for May 29.
Mr Maciver said: “They were somewhat coy as to what exactly was planned.
“There certainly seems to be some kind of veiled reference to sexual activity.”
Sheriff David Sutherland told Hall yesterday that the public would be “better protected” by a community-based sentence, rather detention – as he would be released six months into the maximum year-long sentence available.
“This is a very serious offence given the age of the girl and has to be treated with grave concerns by the prosecuting authorities and the court,” he said.
“Any breach of the order will inevitably mean you will go to jail.”