SCOTT MORTON KILMARNOCK SEX OFFENDER AVOIDS JAIL AFTER ONLINE CHILD PREDATION PLOT

In April 2018, a disturbing case involving a 39-year-old man from Kilmarnock, identified as Scott Morton, came to light through an online child protection initiative. Morton, residing on Balgray Avenue in Kilmarnock, was caught attempting to engage in inappropriate online communication with a girl he believed to be only 12 years old. Despite the serious nature of his actions, he was ultimately spared a custodial sentence but faced significant legal consequences.

According to court records, Morton had deliberately initiated contact with the young girl via Facebook. The messages, which were not discovered until several months later, revealed his predatory intent. On May 21 of the previous year, Morton sent a message to the girl, but she did not see it until August 21. When she responded, she made it clear that she was underage, explicitly stating her age. However, Morton persisted in his attempts to communicate with her, continuing to send messages despite her warnings.

He inquired about her school life and asked if she used Snapchat, showing a continued interest in engaging with her. The girl, feeling uncomfortable, confided in her mother, who was aware of an online group called Silent Justice. The mother then contacted a Scottish representative from this group, who advised her daughter to keep the conversation going. The communication was maintained through WhatsApp, with Morton continuing to send messages.

In his initial message, Morton expressed his awareness of her age, stating, “I hope you don’t mind me chatting with you since you’re only 12,” and mentioned that he would be turning 39 soon. He then made inappropriate comments about her appearance, suggesting she looked older than her age, and asked her to send a photograph. The conversation quickly escalated into sexually explicit exchanges, with Morton sending several inappropriate messages, including a request to see her naked. When she responded cautiously, Morton pressed further, asking if it was okay because she was only 12.

Shockingly, Morton sent a nude photograph of himself, captioned “you like,” which referenced his private parts. He also posed a sexually explicit question, encouraged her to act in a sexual manner, and provided a link to a pornographic website. All these messages were captured in screenshots and handed over to the Silent Justice group. This group then arranged for Morton to be confronted at Kilmarnock railway station on September 15.

During the confrontation, Morton admitted to sending messages to a girl he believed to be just 12 years old. The court heard the details of his predatory behavior and the evidence collected against him. Sheriff Michael Hanlon sentenced Morton to a community payback order, which was considered a suitable alternative to imprisonment. Morton was required to complete 150 hours of unpaid community work within six months and was placed under supervision for a period of 36 months. Additionally, he was subjected to various conduct requirements and mandated to participate in the Moving Forward, Making Changes program for the same duration.

Furthermore, Morton was placed on the sex offenders register for three years, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses. The case highlights the importance of online vigilance and the efforts of child protection groups to combat online predation, but it also underscores the need for strict legal consequences for those who seek to exploit vulnerable minors.