EDINBURGH AND MUSSELBURGH SEX OFFENDER ANDREW BEATSON JAILED FOR GROOMING TEEN GIRLS ON BEBO

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Edinburgh and Musselburgh, Andrew Beatson, aged 26, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of engaging in sexual activities with two underage girls he met through the internet. The case highlights the dangers lurking on social networking sites and underscores the importance of vigilant online safety measures.

According to court reports, Beatson exploited the popular social media platform Bebo to establish contact with his first victim, a 14-year-old girl. He initially befriended her after viewing her personal profile, which led to a series of private messages exchanged over a period of four months. During this time, he gradually built a relationship of trust with the young girl, who was described as vulnerable and impressionable.

Eventually, Beatson persuaded her to visit his flat in Edinburgh, where he engaged in sexual activity with her. The girl’s worried parents had reported her missing after she stormed out of their family home during an argument and stayed out all night. When they discovered her whereabouts and learned she had been with Beatson, they contacted the police, leading to his arrest and subsequent charges.

While on bail, awaiting his court appearance, Beatson did not cease his online activities. Instead, he used the same social networking site to initiate a sexual relationship with another 14-year-old girl. This second victim was also persuaded to pass on her mobile phone number, which facilitated further contact and grooming.

His actions did not go unnoticed. Beatson was caught a second time with an underage girl he had met through his alleged “internet addiction,” and he was remanded in custody. The police investigation revealed a pattern of predatory behavior, with Beatson exploiting the anonymity and accessibility of the internet to target vulnerable teenagers.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Beatson pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual activity involving minors. The court heard that the offenses took place in November 2006 and March 2007 at his flat located in Haileslands Gardens. His solicitor, Angus McLennan, attempted to mitigate his client’s actions by claiming that Beatson had sought counseling for his issues, including an internet addiction. McLennan argued that Beatson was naive and unaware of the true ages of his victims, believing they were over 16 based on their descriptions.

However, Sheriff Noel McPartlin was unpersuaded by these claims. He described Beatson as a “predator,” emphasizing that both girls were approximately 14 years old at the time of the offenses. The sheriff stated, “The fact is that both girls were not much older than 14 when these offences took place. You initiated contact through the internet, so it is very difficult to come to any other conclusion than that your conduct is predatory by its very nature.”

As part of his sentence, Beatson was ordered to serve nine months in prison. Additionally, he will be supervised for a further nine months after his release and will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such offenses are regarded and the need for ongoing monitoring of offenders.

Following his guilty plea, Beatson, a former meter reader for Scottish Gas, moved back to his parents’ home in Musselburgh. The case has reignited calls from safety organizations urging parents to closely monitor their children’s online activities, especially on platforms like Bebo, Myspace, and Facebook, which are often exploited by predators.

A spokesperson for Bebo responded to the case, stating, “Our site is policed very heavily but we have millions of users and so obviously problems do crop up. These kinds of websites have taken off quite rapidly and so our safety guards are constantly evolving. We do take every issue very seriously and work in connection with a team of experts to try to improve our safety regulations.”

Bebo, which boasts approximately 34 million users worldwide, has implemented a safety section on its website. This feature encourages young users to report any suspicious behavior or inappropriate content, aiming to create a safer online environment for teenagers and their families.