Perv asked for naked picture of girl aged 13

A pervert sweet shop employee asked for indecent images of a 13-year-old schoolgirl in return for cigarettes.

Paul Colgan communicated indecently with the victim between April and October 2020 in Cambuslang.

The 54-year-old sent kissing emojis, requested naked pictures and told the girl he “fancied” her.

Colgan also messaged an indecent picture of himself where he was only identifiable by his Dino’s Sweets and Treats uniform in the background.

The girl refused initially refused to send a picture of herself in exchange for cigarettes and was told it would be “our wee secret”.

Colgan pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court, pictured, to sending sexual written communication to the girl intentionally for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification or of humiliating, distressing or alarming her.

He also admitted to intentionally causing her to view a sexual image and possession of indecent photographs of children.

Sheriff Gerald Considine tagged Colgan, Cambuslang, at sentencing for four months, keeping him indoors between 8pm and 8am.

He was also put under supervision for two years and placed on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

The court heard the girl would regularly attend the shop. She went in early 2020 to buy goods and Colgan asked for her phone number, which she handed over.

Colgan sent a text to the girl 10 minutes later asking if it was “weird” to have her number and she replied: “No.”

Colgan followed up the message with a number of kissing emojis.

He also commented on the shorts she was wearing and asked her for a picture of them with her in them.

The girl found this “weird” and blocked Colgan.

She later attended the shop with her boyfriend while Colgan was working.

He told them: “I bet you do loads of sexual stuff with him, why don’t you do it with me?”

In summer 2020, the girl asked Colgan to buy her cigarettes but she didn’t have money for him.

He agreed to purchase them but stated he “needed something in return.”

Prosecutor Shona Howie added: “When the girl asked what he meant by this, Colgan replied that he wanted a picture of her with no clothes on.

“She refused to send the picture which caused Colgan to ask why not and stated that it would be ‘our wee secret’.

“Colgan also stated that he ‘fancied’ the girl.”

The girl meantime received a picture of Colgan’s penis.

He was identified by the uniform of the shop in the background before the girl blocked Colgan again.

On a later occasion, the girl asked for a final time for Colgan to buy her cigarettes.

She stated she did not have money but agreed to send a picture of herself.

The girl messaged Colgan a picture of her in a football top and pants.

Colgan replied that he wanted to “spank” the girl and the pair remained in contact until October 2020.

The girl’s mum then became “concerned” about their contact and found messages on her WhatsApp.

Examples of conversations included Colgan claiming that her shop debt was higher than receiving oral sex from a prostitute in the city centre.

Police were contacted and traced Colgan where he was arrested and his mobile phone seized.

Colgan admitted having “pictures of a sexual nature” of the girl and messaging her.

He told officers that he “knew this was wrong” as she was under 16.

Miss Howie added: “A total of three unique indecent images of children were located on the phone which were accessible to the user.

“The female within these photographs was identified as the girl.”