PETER COIA FROM FALKIRK AVOIDS JAIL AFTER SEXUAL OFFENCES IN STIRLING

In a case that has drawn significant attention, 19-year-old Peter Coia, a resident of Carmuirs Avenue in Falkirk, faced serious allegations related to inappropriate communications with young girls in Stirling. The incident, which spanned over several months, involved Coia sending sexually explicit messages to minors, raising concerns about his conduct and the broader issues of safeguarding children.

Coia appeared before Alloa Sheriff Court on Thursday, 5 February, to be sentenced for three separate sexual offences involving children. The court heard that the first offence occurred when Coia was just 17 years old. Over an eight-month period, he engaged in a pattern of inappropriate communication with two young girls, which included sending explicit messages and making contact on multiple occasions.

The first incident took place between 31 March and 11 April 2013 at a property in Causewayhead, Stirling. During this time, Coia repeatedly sent sexually explicit messages to a girl aged 13. The court was also informed that between 30 July and 7 September of the same year, he made contact with a second girl, who was then 12 years old. Coia continued to send her sexually explicit messages even after she turned 13, which constituted a separate offence under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act.

Additionally, the Crown accepted that Coia traveled with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with the second girl, who was 13 at the time. This particular offence was agreed upon to be admitted by Coia to avoid a lengthy trial and to prevent the young girls from having to give evidence in court.

During the sentencing hearing, Sheriff David Mackie acknowledged the seriousness of the offences but also took into account Coia’s background and personality issues. The sheriff stated, “Normally, this matter would warrant a custodial sentence, but that won’t happen today. This is due to the fact that certain issues have been highlighted in your background and your personality, both of which have led you to behave in this way.”

Sheriff Mackie emphasized that incarceration was not the appropriate response in this case. Instead, he ordered that Coia be subject to supervision for the next three years. He also mandated that Coia attend a sex offender’s treatment program and undergo a psychological assessment. Furthermore, Coia is prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with individuals under the age of 17.

As part of his sentence, Coia was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months. He will also be registered as a sex offender for the duration of three years, reflecting the court’s recognition of the gravity of his actions and the importance of monitoring his conduct moving forward.