Twisted pervert preys on vulnerable teen

Sex offender groomed boy after meeting online

Cannon under the name of Stephen Bryan.

Mrs McGregor said: “After this he [ the victim] heard from him [ Cannon] every day.

“The accused private messaged him inviting him for a drink now he was 18.

“The victim travelled to Ayr by train and got off at NewtononAyr.”

Cannon took his victim back to his home and upon entering the upstairs flat on York Street Lane in Ayr, he immediately locked the door and closed all the curtains and blinds.

While in the home, Cannon made advances towards the teenager, squeezing his bum and asking if he wanted to go to bed with him.

Cannon then held the teen’s hand and attempted to kiss him.

The pair met up again a few weeks later where Cannon touched the boy over his clothing before trying to kiss him.

When the teen went to leave, Cannon said: “You’re not going for your train until you give me a kiss.”

Mrs McGregor said: “During the walk to the train station, the accused apologised and begged the victim not to tell anyone.

“The victim said he was disgusted and ashamed and as though he wanted to kill himself.”

Twisted Cannon even befriended the victim’s mother by adding her as a friend on Facebook. He then sent her messages saying: “I’ll make [ the victim] something nice to eat; he’s the best friend I’ve ever had”.

The teen told his mother that Cannon would call and message him at all hours of the day which was upsetting him.

On another occasion, Cannon touched the teen again over his clothing, tried to kiss him and repeatedly touched his bum.

Later that night when he got home, the victim cried in his bedroom “uncontrollably”.

The boy later broke down after his mother confronted him about Cannon. It took him two days to provide his statement due to the emotional stress.

Officers told the teen that Cannon wasn’t Stephen Bryant but in fact Stephen Cannon and on Googling that name the teen found newspaper articles about him. The diet was adjourned for reports and a risk assessment.

Cannon, who is already on the register for 10 years, will reappear in court next month and was ordered to remain in custody until then.