A family man from Lanarkshire has been put on the sex offenders’ register after a police paedophile sting.
Michael Anderson sent messages of a sexual nature to an undercover officer posing as a 13-year-old girl.
It led to Anderson, 30, appearing at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday.
He admitted indecently communicating with ‘Amy’ from his home in Kirkland Street, Motherwell, between May 24, 2021, and June 11 that year.
The court heard Anderson was caught in an undercover operation run by police forces in England and Wales.
Officers set up fake social media profiles and one of those attracted the attention of Anderson.
His online conversations with the officer pretending to be ‘Amy’ were innocent to start with, but he soon started making inappropriate comments despite ‘Amy’ telling him she was only 13.
He said he was 29, asked her if she “liked older guys” and encouraged her to “have some fun”.
After amassing evidence against Anderson, police officers went to his home in December 2021 and found him there with his partner and a child.
Anderson was arrested and admitted using a certain online platform, but at that point denied having indecent chats.
Sheriff Andrew McIntyre deferred sentence on Anderson, who has no previous convictions, until March for background and electronic tagging reports as well as a risk assessment.
The sheriff agreed to continue the accused’s bail but warned he will “consider all the sentencing options”, adding: “I’ll keep an open mind.”
Anderson was put on the sex offenders’ register. The length of time his name will remain there will be fixed when he is sentenced.
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