Paedo lives five-minute walk from high school
Three primaries are also near pervert’s new home
A child sex predator snared by paedophile hunters in Paisley is now living less than a mile from FOUR East Kilbride schools.
Depraved Ian Bell, 48, was clutching a cuddly unicorn toy as he attempted to meet a ‘decoy’ he believed was a 15-year-old girl.
He was snared after sending indecent pictures and having sex chats with a member of vigilante group Wolfpack Hunters UK on social media.
Bell was put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years, has an electronic tag for ten months and was ordered to be closely supervised by the local authority for three years.
He is also banned from schools, nurseries, public parks and playparks, as well banned from using any device capable of accessing the internet for the duration of the order.
And now the News can reveal that the pervert is living just 500 yards – a FIVE MINUTE walk – from Duncanrig Secondary School.
Bell, of Three Rivers Walk, lives 0.3 miles from East Milton Primary, 0.5 miles from Our Lady of Lourdes Primary and 0.6 miles from Canberra Primary school.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard that Bell had been messaging an adult, William Brown, who he thought was a girl called Sarah, and even arranged to meet her for sex.
However, he was caught in an elaborate sting operation when the decoy, accompanied by members of the group, confronted him outside a supermarket.
Bell, formerly of Barrhead, even had a cuddly toy in a plastic shopping bag, when he was approached by the group, which recorded the encounter on video.
In the sting video posted on the Wolfpack Hunters’ Facebook page, the creep claims to be married with a teenage daughter.
Bell appeared in the dock before Sheriff Colin Pettigrew last week where he pleaded guilty to sending indecent images with intention of causing a child to look at them, for his own sexual gratification between July 10 and 28, 2018.
He also admitted attempting to meet a person he believed to be a child with the intention of having underage sex on the same day.
The court had ordered background reports, including risk assessments, before deciding his punishment.
Defence agent David Nicholson said: “He recognises the gravity and nature of the charges to which he has pleaded guilty.
“He also recognises the humiliation he has brought upon his wife and his family, because of his conduct.
“He appears as a first offender and I would ask the court to consider handing him a non-custodial sentence.
“He understands that there will have to be a punitive element and would be suitable for a Restriction of Liberty Order, coupled with protective measures, such as programme requirements.”
Sheriff Pettigrew branded Bell’s behaviour “wholly unacceptable” and added the courts have “a duty to protect children” from the likes of him.
He said: “The court has a duty to reflect society’s concerns – and express its disapproval – at your repeated offending which took planning and anticipation on your part.”
South Lanarkshire Council’s head of Children and Justice Services, Liam Purdie, said: “Sex offenders are monitored in the community under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) which involve the police service, local authorities, the NHS, Scottish Prison Service and other partners. None of the partners engaged in MAPPA will comment on specific cases or individuals.
“Public safety is always the main priority in all cases. Whilst it remains the main priority, a balance is required between public safety and the right of the individual.
“All aspects of cases are carefully considered at every stage of the process, from psychological and risk assessments to places of residence and potential security issues.
“A number of measures can be put in place to manage offenders in the community and these are monitored by dedicated police officers and officials from partner organisations.”