June 2017 Pervert jailed after grooming schoolgirls online A prolific sexual predator has been sentenced after he was caught grooming eight schoolgirls online Stuart Hughes, 34 of Mid Calder/Craigshill, Livingston appeared at Sheriff Court House in Edinburgh where he was found guilty of multiple sexual offences against a number of female children The court was told that Hughes had targeted eight schoolgirls aged between 13 and 15 for his own sexual gratification, after telling them he was 21 years old Hughes sent the girls sexually explicit messages, nude videos and photos of himself with a view of engaging in sexual activity with them On one occasion, the pervert approached one girl in Edinburgh City Centre and offered money to her for sex. The girl ran off and alerted a police officer who arrested Hughes on the scene. A investigation into his activity was launched and his internet devises were seized. Evidence of his twisted and sick demands were found and he was charged with multiple offences of sexual communication with children aged under 16.  The judge handed Hughes a term of 16 months imprisonment and a 30 month extended sentence Hughes was told that he must register as a sex offender for a period of 46 months, and that he will be placed on the vulnerable groups register which prevents him from working with children in the future