200 hours unpaid work for Forfar library public indecency offender
An Angus man performed a sex act on himself three times in four days while browsing pornography on a public library computer
Adam Morrison has been placed on the sex offenders’ register and ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work.
He will also be banned from Forfar library for 18-month duration of his Community Payback Order after being sentenced at the town’s sheriff court for offences which also included sending sexually explicit messages to 13 and 11-year-old girls.
Morrison, 21, of Leach Close, Arbroath previously admitted the indecency acts at the library in West High Street which took place on April 11, 12 and 14 2017.
The court was told Morrison was a regular at the Forfar facility and was known to staff.
On the dates in question he went to the reading room and sat at the computer furthest from the door and closest to the back wall. His actions were caught on CCTV.
He also pled guilty to sending sexually explicit messages to the young girls via Facebook between July and August 2015.
The court previously heard the 13-year-old received a Facebook message from an Adam Morrison, but there was no photograph on his profile.
He said he was 17 and asked her to send him an indecent picture of herself.
The teenager thought the account was fake and blocked the accused’s profile to ensure he was not able to contact her again.
Police became involved, accessed Morrison’s computer and found messages from the accused asking the girl for naked images.
The 11-year-old had a Facebook account which she used regularly. After getting into a conversation with Morrison she showed her mother the explicit content.
Sentencing had been deferred for the preparation of full background reports on Morrison, who is autistic, and solicitor Sarah Russo said those showed “a degree of insight and reflection in respect of his actions.”
“The author of the report has said that he did not intend to cause harm or distress in those instances,” she added.
“They are more than happy to work with him and there are issues to be addressed.”
Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown told Morrison he had admitted a “serious offence” for which custody was an option.
“I am satisfied that in light of the detailed reports that a community-based disposal is available,” the sheriff added.
The terms of the CPO include a mental health treatment requirement and conduct requirement banning Morrison from Forfar library for 18 months, as well as restrictions on use of the internet and unsupervised contact with anyone under 16.
His name will be placed on the register for the duration of the CPO.
November 2018
Angus library indecency accused appears on further sexual offence charges
A man banned from an Angus public library over charges of acting indecently in the premises while watching pornography on a computer five times within a week has appeared in court to face further charges relating to young girls.
Adam Morrison from Arbroath previously appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court on a complaint alleging he had acted indecently while viewing explicit material on a public computer in the town’s West High Street on April 7,10, 11, 12 and 14 last year.
Morrison, 21, of Leach Close, Arbroath had also been accused of sending communications indecently with girls in offences dating back to 2015.
He appeared at Forfar on Thursday where Sheriff Jamie McDonald was told a fresh summary complaint had been raised against the accused.
Morrison also faces charges of sending offensive messages from Arbroath library on June 5 2015 and, between July 29 and August 10 that year, sending sexual messages to a girl aged 13, asking her to meet him and send indecent photographs.
He is also accused of similar conduct towards an 11-year-old girl between August 8 and 13 2015, a 13-year-old between December 28 2015 and January 2 2016 and another 13-year-old between July 6 and 7 2016.
Defence solicitor Nick Markowski told the court Morrison suffered from difficulties and was granted a three-week continuation without plea in the matter.
He said there was a reasonable prospect of the matter being resolved through discussion with the Crown.
Sheriff McDonald continued the case until December 20.
Morrison will remain on bail, including the special condition banning him from going into Forfar library.
