RYAN BALLARD OF SELKIRK SHOCKS COMMUNITY WITH ONLINE PAEDOPHILE BOASTS AND SEX OFFENDER ORDER

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Selkirk, a former police officer has been publicly identified and sanctioned for engaging in highly inappropriate and illegal online behavior. Ryan Ballard, aged 51, was found to have boasted on a social media platform about engaging in sexual activities with a fictitious daughter, leading to his placement on the sex offenders’ register for a period of 12 months.

According to court records, Ballard registered on the social media site ChatStop, where he claimed to be a father of three. His profile described him as a bisexual married man from Scotland, with two sons aged 11 and 15, and a daughter aged nine. During the period between May 15 and August 29 of the previous year, he sent numerous sexually explicit messages to an undercover police officer working for England’s South East Regional Crime Unit. These messages detailed inappropriate and sexual conduct towards the fictitious girl, including descriptions of acts he claimed to have performed with her.

Despite his online claims, the court was informed that Ballard was married at the time but did not have any children. The undercover officer, acting as part of an investigation into online sexual offenses, reported the matter to Police Scotland’s Internet Investigations Unit. Following this report, Ballard was suspended from his duties on August 31 after being formally charged with the offenses.

It was also revealed during the court proceedings that Ballard had since separated from his wife and was now involved in a new relationship with a man. The court heard that he pleaded guilty to charges of sending offensive and sexually explicit messages concerning sexual activity with both older and younger children over a span of three months.

Procurator Fiscal Graham Fraser emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “This was not an isolated incident. There were two separate episodes in which he made these communications.”

In sentencing, Sheriff Peter Grant-Hutchison imposed a 12-month community payback order, which includes supervision and monitoring of all internet activity to prevent further offenses. Additionally, Ballard will be subject to sex offence notification requirements for the next year, ensuring ongoing oversight of his conduct and compliance with legal obligations related to sex offenders.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling online sexual offenses and underscores the importance of vigilance and swift action in protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse.