JAMES LAVERTY FROM FIFE JAILED AFTER ONLINE CONTACT WITH OTHER SEX OFFENDER

In March 2019, James Laverty from Fife was sentenced to eight months in prison after engaging with another convicted sex offender online. Laverty appeared before Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court following his third violation of a community-based disposal order.

The 30-year-old, of Robertson Avenue in Leven, had previously been convicted in 2016 for downloading thousands of indecent images of children. As part of his sentence, he was ordered to complete a three-year community payback order, participate in a sex offenders group work programme, and was placed on the sex offender register.

The court learned that Laverty had failed to comply with the conditions of his community-based order on two prior occasions. His latest breach occurred when he engaged with a fellow sex offender via the internet.

Sheriff Grant McCulloch highlighted the seriousness of this breach, stating: “He was prohibited from having direct or indirect contact with certain individuals. He knew this person was also a registered sex offender. He met them in prison. The problem with Mr Laverty is that he is not prepared to accept what he does in any way. A breach of a court order is dangerous, not just for him but for other members of the public, particularly young people. This is yet another blatant breach which was put in place for public protection.”

Addressing Laverty directly, the sheriff added: “You were given the benefit of a community payback order for the purpose of education and reflection and punishment. In these circumstances, I’m going to revoke the order following this breach and will impose a custodial sentence of eight months from today’s date.”

Laverty’s earlier convictions involved taking or allowing the production of indecent images of children at his residence between May 2011 and August 2014. He was also found to have possessed sexual images of minors during this period.