NEIL PETERS SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN LANARKSHIRE

A man from Lanarkshire, Neil Peters, has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after admitting to engaging in disturbing online communication with minors and attempting to meet them for sexual activities. The 64-year-old Peters believed he was interacting with teenage girls aged 13 and 14, but in reality, he was talking to decoys from vigilante groups known as Dank Dragons and Improved Maximum Exposure.

The investigation revealed that Peters initiated conversations on a dating platform with the intent to pursue sexual encounters. During these exchanges, he veered towards explicit content and expressed romantic interest in an explicit manner. Notably, he claimed to one girl, identified as ‘Tia,’ that he would marry her immediately and considered himself honored to be her boyfriend, despite being repeatedly informed that she was only 13 years old. Throughout the chat, Peters sent her indecent photographs of himself and warned her to keep their conversations secret, implying serious consequences should their interactions be exposed.

In addition to his interaction with ‘Tia,’ Peters communicated with a girl known as ‘Lucy.’ He complimented her, calling her ‘gorgeous,’ and demanded topless photos, further exemplifying his intentions. The perpetrator arranged to meet the girls in person, which ultimately led to his discovery. Vigilante groups, monitoring online activity to protect minors, confronted Peters and streamed his attempted meeting live on Facebook.

Peters, a resident of Larkhall, appeared before Hamilton Sheriff Court to face charges. He pleaded guilty to engaging in indecent communication with both girls during August of the previous year. Furthermore, he admitted to attempting to meet one of the girls with the aim of engaging in sexual activity.

Sheriff John Speir sentenced Peters, a first-time offender, to a jail term of 18 months. In addition to his imprisonment, Peters was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, emphasizing the severity of his actions.

During proceedings, depute fiscal Chloe O'Hara detailed some of the investigative steps. She explained that Peters communicated with Lucy and asked her if she resided near Morrisons in Anniesland, indicating his intent to meet her there. Lucy responded that she would be at the location in her school uniform, and Peters suggested she wear stockings instead of tights, stating his personal preference. He specified he would arrive in a white Audi car and instructed her to wait outside the supermarket.

The following day, members of the vigilante group attended Morrisons with the purpose of confronting Peters. They contacted the police and observed his vehicle as he arrived. The group live-streamed the confrontation on Facebook while awaiting law enforcement, capturing the moment of the intervention.

Sheriff Speir made it clear that Peters’s actions warranted a custodial sentence, reflecting the gravity of his offenses committed in Lanarkshire. The court’s ruling underscores the ongoing efforts to combat online predations against minors and highlights the risks associated with engaging in such illicit behavior.