A MAN was caught speaking sexually to a girl who he believed was 13 years old.

James Ferns, 61, of Dennistoun, was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to attempting to communicate indecently with a child.

The charge goes on to state that between May 28 and May 29, 2023, at a property in Castlemilk, Ferns sent messages of an inappropriate and sexual nature to an adult decoy posing as a 13-year-old child named “Ellie Chapman”.

Ferns’ lawyer told the court that his client could benefit from a lengthy period of supervision “to address the root cause of this behaviour”.

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The defence solicitor said: “It is clear the matter is very, very serious. His explanation certainly concerned me.

“He does accept responsibility for the offence. He has no previous convictions and benefits from the protection that he has never been given a custodial sentence before.

“The author of the report says that while he would not be suitable for the Clyde Key Assessment he would be suitable for a period of supervision.

"A lengthy period to address the root cause of this behaviour and give the assurance that it will not be repeated.

“It would be a short term if he went to custody and whatever time he would spend there would not be enough time for the services available in the prison to address the problems he so clearly has.

“There is a chance that a community-based disposal goes a lot further than a custodial sentence.”

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Sheriff Simone Sweeney tagged Ferns for 136 days keeping him indoors from 7pm to 7am.

He was also placed on a community payback order with 210 hours of unpaid work, social work supervision for 24 months, and a conduct requirement similar to his bail conditions which include a restriction on devices capable of browsing the internet.

Ferns was also made subject to notification requirements for five years.