Attempting to communicate indecently with a 12-year-old girl.

Man Remanded in Custody for Attempted Indecent Communication with Child

A 40-year-old man, Ashley Bell, has been remanded in custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court after admitting to attempting to communicate indecently with a 12-year-old girl.

Bell initiated contact with his intended victim on the Instagram messaging service before transitioning the conversation to Snapchat, a platform known for its self-deleting messages.

Despite being informed that the girl was preparing for school and anticipating her 13th birthday, Bell engaged in conversations about sex toys, breasts, and boasted about the size of his manhood.

However, the individual Bell was communicating with was actually an undercover police officer, and their interactions were recorded. Bell confessed to intentionally sending sexually explicit messages to the individual, believing them to be a child under 13, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification or causing humiliation, distress, or alarm.

The offense occurred between March 6 and 15 at an address in Lovel Court, Hawick, and other locations. Bell, currently a prisoner in Edinburgh, will be sentenced on July 31 after background reports, including guidance on post-release supervision, are completed.

Sheriff Douglas Keir warned Bell that he is likely to face a custodial sentence, in addition to being subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act.