An East Kilbride paedophile is behind bars after a sting involving undercover police officers posing online as young girls.
At the time, repeat offender Connor Kennedy was under social work supervision and supposed to be getting counselling to tackle his deviant behaviour.
Kennedy, 25, a prisoner formerly of East Kilbride, was jailed for 15 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court and put on the sex offenders' register for an indefinite period.
He was also handed a 10-year sexual offences prevention order. This bans him from contact with children and he must stay away from schools, children's playparks, swimming pools and other areas where youngsters gather.
There will also be restrictions on his internet use. Kennedy admitted sending indecent photos of himself to police officers posing as girls aged under 13.
The sting took place between April 21 and June 23 last year. Kennedy was arrested in July and has been in custody since.
Sheriff Thomas Millar backdated the 15-month prison sentence to take account of that, meaning Kennedy should be freed within weeks under early release rules.
However, the sheriff ordered that he be supervised closely for 26 months, telling him: "I'm concerned that the public is adequately protected from you on your release."
Kennedy walked free from the same court in November 2020 when he was given a three-year supervision order.
On that occasion he admitted sending a girl aged 14 messages of a sexual nature over a six-month period. He quizzed her about her sexual history, asked her to meet him for sex and tried to get her to send him pictures of her undressed.
Kennedy also has an earlier conviction for a similar offence.
In court this week, defence agent Andy Thomson said Kennedy suffers from the "unfortunate combination" of autism and a learning disability.
The solicitor stated: "I must concede that he has had chances in the past and the current community payback order probably has not worked.
"It's difficult to feel sorry for him, given the nature of the offences, but he has never had a friend of any kind.
"He has an urge to get into a relationship, but there is an inability to connect with adults and so he tries to contact younger persons.
"His family appear to have disowned him. It's a terrible situation."
Passing sentence, Sheriff Millar told Kennedy: "Given the gravity of the offences and your criminal record, custody is the only appropriate disposal.
"The prison sentence is reduced from 20 months to 15 months due to the time of your guilty plea, your obvious difficulties - including the learning disability - and your age at the time."
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