SCOTT BELL FROM FORFAR AND KIRRIEMUIR JAILED FOR REPEATED SEX OFFENSES AND SNAPCHAT BREACH IN ANGUS

In a recent and highly concerning case at Forfar Sheriff Court, Scott Bell, a 28-year-old resident of Restenneth Drive, Forfar, faced serious legal repercussions for a series of violations related to his previous sex offenses and breaches of court-imposed restrictions. The court heard that Bell's repeated misconduct, particularly involving social media platforms like Snapchat, represented one of the most blatant violations of court orders seen by the judiciary in recent times.

Sheriff Gregor Murray expressed his grave concern over Bell's actions, emphasizing that the case posed significant challenges from a sentencing perspective. The sheriff highlighted the difficulty in determining an appropriate punishment that would adequately protect the public, given Bell's history and the severity of his latest breaches. As a result, Bell was placed on the sex offenders notification register for a period of three years following his sentencing.

Bell appeared before the court on an indictment, admitting to breaching the strict conditions of a three-year supervision order that had been imposed upon him at Dundee Sheriff Court in late 2017. This supervision order was a consequence of an earlier conviction when Bell was found in possession of indecent images of children at a property in Forfar during the previous year. The court noted that Bell's criminal record also includes a conviction from nearly a decade earlier, when he was placed on the sex offenders register for sending sexual messages to minors aged 13 and 14.

In October 2017, Bell, who was then identified as a delivery driver with an address in Kirriemuir, was found to be in possession of indecent images of children on his laptop. The incident occurred in December of the previous year, and the case was brought before Dundee Sheriff Court. Bell, then 27 years old and residing at St Malcolm’s Wynd in Kirriemuir, admitted to taking or allowing indecent photographs of children to be taken. The court was informed that Bell had a prior conviction from 2008 for sending sexual messages to minors aged 13 and 14, which led to his inclusion on the sex offenders register.

During the hearing, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentencing until November to allow for the preparation of reports. Bell was granted bail and was allowed to remain at his residence in Kirriemuir until the sentencing date. The case underscores ongoing concerns about the behavior of individuals with a history of sexual offenses and the importance of strict monitoring and enforcement of court orders to safeguard the community from potential harm.