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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
David Meikle

Lanarkshire tyre fitter a 'substantial risk' after sex with 14-year-old he met in Asda

A pervert had sex with a vulnerable 14-year-old girl high on cocaine.

James Copland, 35, met the teenager and her 16-year-old friend and walked to a nearby skatepark before walking through a wooded area.

But as the older girl walked ahead, she was horrified to turn around and see the younger girl being intimate with Copland. The two then disappeared into the woods together and police were called by the older girl.

READ MORE: 995 sex offenders in Glasgow and what postcodes have the highest number

Tyre fitter Copland and the girl later emerged from the woods and revealed they had had sex.

He was arrested but told officers the girl, who was a stranger, had told him she was 17.

She told police: "I'm mad wae it. I've had a drink and coke, I'm not gonnae lie. But it wasn't rape. I told him I was 14 and she was 16."

Under questioning, he admitted having sexual intercourse with the girl in Blantyre.

Copland, of Blantyre, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl in August last year.

Two charges alleging he had supplied both girls with cocaine were dropped.

Depute fiscal Abby Seal said: "Both witnesses in this case are vulnerable.

"The two girls had been consuming alcohol and later attended at the Asda supermarket in Blantyre where the complainer began talking to the accused.

"She told her friend that they were going to be going with the accused who said his name was Jim.

"The accused told them they would walk through a wooded area in order to come out at the other side of Blantyre railway station.

"The witness was on her phone and walking in front of the complainer and the accused."

The court heard the girl had spotted her friend and Copland embracing but had walked away before alerting police.

The prosecutor added: "A search was launched for the complainer and at 2.46am they appeared from the wooded area and approached police.

"She had no trousers or shoes on and had a jacket tied around her waist.

"She told police 'I told him I was 14' I told him that before we had sex and police then arrested the accused who said 'she told me she was 17 and I believed her."

Andy Iles, defending, said: "Reports will clearly be necessary and I would ask his status be maintained, he has been on bail since last year and is in full time employment as a tyre fitter."

Sheriff Alasdair MacFadyen deferred sentence on Copland until later this month for reports and remanded him in custody.

He said: "You have a considerable history of sexual offending and I'm told here that you and the victim were unknown to each other before you carried out these acts.

"The combination of this and your record persuades me that you present a substantial risk of further sexual offending so your bail will be revoked."

Prosecutors have asked for him to be given a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO).

Copland was placed on the sex offenders' register.

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