OIL AND GAS ACCOUNTANT JAILED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND INDECENT IMAGES
Steven Balfour, a 52-year-old individual residing in Cove, has been convicted of serious child sex offences.During a trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, he was found guilty by a jury after only two hours of deliberation.
The charges against him included engaging in sexual conversations with an undercover police officer posing as a juvenile and possessing indecent images of children.
Balfour was convicted of possessing 36 Category C images depicting children involved in sexual acts and of engaging in disturbing online chats with the decoy.
He had a prior conviction from 2016 for similar offenses.
Balfour, working as a senior accountant for North Sea oil and gas companies, used social media apps like Kik to send a private photo of himself to the decoy and to ask about her sexual experiences, including inquiries about her hymen.
His defense claimed he was unaware of the explicit messages and believed he was speaking to an adult, but the jury did not accept this explanation.
The court sentenced him to 30 months in prison.
Sheriff Ian Wallace emphasized the severity of his actions and the danger he poses to the community.
