Inverness sex offender is sent back to prison
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Scott Murray had been banned from being in the company of boys under 16 but went on a road trip with three teenagers in February.
He was subject to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order granted at Inverness Sheriff Court in July 2015.
But the court was told on Tuesday that he had breached that order several times.
Sheriff Margaret Neilson also heard that he was released early from a 21-month jail sentence issued in March 2017 for spying on boys in a leisure centre, which he is also banned from entering.
Murray’s latest breach occurred between October 1, 2018 and February 5 this year.
Fiscal depute Robert Weir told the court that Murray met with a 14-year-old boy at about noon in Inverness Skate Park on February 5.
The teenager was reported missing to the police by his mother later that evening and officers were told by her that she believed him to be “in the company of a man called Scott, in Dundee”.
Police suspected Murray was involved and mobile patrols were alerted to keep a lookout for his blue Astra car.
It was seen later that evening heading towards Inverness.
Police stopped it and found three teenagers inside, including the 14-year-old.
Mr Weir said subsequent investigations revealed that Murray (33) had taken the boy to Dundee and been in regular contact with him since the beginning of October the previous year.
He said they met regularly at the skate park and he would be taken by Murray to fast food restaurants in Drumnadrochit and Dundee.
The boy had also stayed at Murray’s then home in Telford Street in Inverness.
Police discovered that a second boy, aged 11, had also met with Murray at the skate park and had been lured into his car to be supplied with food and drink, Mr Weir added.
Defence solicitor Willie Young said his client became friendly with several people at the skate park.
Most of them were over the age of 16, but the group also included younger teenagers.
“That group attended his home and they took trips to Dundee to go to the casino,” he said.
Sheriff Neilson jailed Murray for 18 months for his latest breach, backdating the sentence to February 6.
