Fearn man sent indecent image to teenage girl

A FEARN man who sent a image of his genitals by mobile phone to a teenage girl, has been placed on a community payback order.

Jamie Leather, Muldearg Road, was ordered to be under social work supervision for a year as a requirement of the payback order.

Thirty-three-year-old Leather appeared at Tain Sheriff Court yesterday to admit contravening the Communications Act 2003 by sending the grossly offensive image of his penis on March 30, 2020.

The court heard that Leather had been communicating with the 16-year-old girl from his home address and elsewhere on the day in question.

Procurator fiscal depute Hilary Michopolou said that initially there was a “fairly pedestrian conversation between them”.

But after some time, Leather, who was said to be single, sent a picture of his penis to the girl. His face could not be seen.

Ms Michopolou continued: “Another message sent just after that confirmed it was indeed the accused that had sent the picture of himself.

“The messages stopped at this point and the complainer blocked the accused and spoke to her parents who decided to contact police.”

Defence agent Rory Gowans said Leather was unemployed and on Universal Credit.

“He has suffered from significant medical difficulties since 2016, both physically and mentally and he has previously had admissions to New Craigs Hospital in Inverness, The most recent of these was in March 2021,” said the lawyer.

“He does not know whether his mental health played a part in this but it was poor judgement to say the least and he bitterly regrets it.”

Passing sentence, Sheriff Gary Aitken said: “At best is was a piece of exceedingly poor judgement and that needs to be remedied and supervision might do him the power of good to make sure nothing like this happens again.”