ANDREW RICHARDS FROM KIRRIEMUIR ON SEX OFFENDERS REGISTER AFTER APPALLING TEXTS TO TEENAGER

In March 2019, a former soldier from Angus, specifically from Kirriemuir, faced serious legal repercussions after being found guilty of sending a series of highly inappropriate and explicit text messages to a 14-year-old girl. The individual in question, Andrew Richards, was identified and apprehended by the national child exploitation unit following a detailed investigation that traced the message exchanges directly to his mobile phone.

During a court hearing at Forfar Sheriff Court, it was revealed that Richards had engaged in what was described as 'prolonged' communication with the young girl over a period of three months. The court noted that the language used by Richards was 'industrial' in nature—an expression that the sheriff acknowledged might have been typical of his 11-year military career. However, the sheriff emphasized that such language was entirely inappropriate when directed towards a minor, especially in the context of the messages he sent.

Richards, who resides at Knowehead Crescent in Kirriemuir, appeared before Sheriff Gregor Murray to face sentencing after previously admitting to the charges. The court confirmed that Richards had sent explicit messages to the girl between May 31 and July 29, 2017. The case also drew criticism from the judge, who pointed out Richards' attempt to downplay or minimize the severity of his actions during the proceedings.

It was disclosed that Richards' inappropriate messages were sent after he learned that the girl had been caught engaging in consensual sexual activity. An unrelated investigation led to the examination of the girl’s mobile device, which subsequently uncovered evidence of her communication with multiple individuals, raising concerns about her online interactions and potential exploitation.

Richards’ defense solicitor, Ian Myles, acknowledged that while the initial interactions appeared benign, Richards admitted that he used 'industrial' language, which he recognized as wholly inappropriate. The solicitor also highlighted that Richards was a first-time offender and that the case was initially initiated through a petition but was quickly reduced to a summary matter, with Richards pleading guilty shortly thereafter.

During the sentencing, Sheriff Murray condemned Richards’ conduct, describing it as 'tactless and appalling.' The sheriff expressed difficulty in understanding how Richards could minimize such a serious offence, especially given the nature of the language used. He made it clear that, regardless of whether the language was typical of military jargon, it was unacceptable to direct such terms towards a 14-year-old girl.

As part of his sentence, Richards was ordered to complete a one-year Community Payback Order, which includes 180 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, his name will be entered onto the sex offenders’ register for a period of 12 months. The court also imposed strict conduct requirements, including a prohibition on any contact with individuals under the age of 17, a duty to inform authorities of any romantic or intimate relationships, and a requirement to make available any electronic devices capable of accessing the internet for inspection by authorities.