March 2007 Woman sent boy, 13, obscene texts A former Venture Scout leader has been sentenced to three years probation for sending a series of obscene text messages to a 13-year-old boy. Debbie Lane, 35, of Rosyth, Fife who is married with two children and had babysat for the boy, pled guilty to the offence. Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard that the messages were extremely explicit. Sheriff Ian Dunbar described their effect on the teenager as “dramatic”, but said a custodial sentence would not address Lane’s problems. He told her that a jail term may have been appropriate, but there were few resources in prison to deal with female sex offenders. Receiving counselling Sheriff Dunbar also said that Lane’s position as a Venture Scout should have given her a greater awareness of the responsibility of an adult towards a child. The boy is now receiving counselling and continues to be affected by the experience. Sheriff Dunbar said: “It is important that you and others understand the impact of such behaviour on a child. “The effect on the boy has been dramatic and it is clear that it continues to affect him on a daily basis. “It is to be hoped that the passage of time and the counselling he is receiving will help him come to terms with what has happened.”