Denies sending messages to teens

A Stirling Albion youth development coach appeared in court yesterday, accused of sending sexual messages to boys as young as 11.

Alexander Robertson, of Fishers Green, Bridge of Allan, is said to have sent messages to four boys.

And in the case of three of the boys it is alleged his intention was to humiliate them.

Robertson, 21, is accused of “repeatedly” sending online sexual messages to three of the boys, who were aged 13 to 15 at the time, “for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification or of humiliating, distressing or alarming” them.

The messages are said to have been sent on a number of occasions between August 2013 and February 2017, during which time it is claimed Robertson repeatedly asked two of the teenagers to accompany him on car journeys and asked the third for pictures of his body.

It is alleged he also repeatedly asked the fourth boy, then aged 11 to 14, to accompany him on car journeys, again requesting pictures of his body and eventually inducing him to send him pictures of himself “in a state of undress”.

The offences are said to have taken place at Robertson’s home and other locations, including Dunblane, Stirling, Clackmannanshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Appearing in the dock at Falkirk Sheriff Court, Robertson spoke only to confirm his name.

Defence solicitor Virgil Crawford said his client pleaded not guilty.

Robertson faces five charges on an indictment under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act.

Mr Crawford asked for the case to be adjourned for the defence to obtain and study details of a report from Police Scotland’s cyber crime unit and to make inquiries from other organisations.

Mr Crawford said: “I have also intimated that I wish to see interviews of various witnesses in this case, which were video-recorded.”

Prosecutor Samantha Brown replied: “I will make arrangements for that to be done but transcripts are available.”

Sheriff Craig Caldwell renewed bail and ordered Robertson to return to court on April 24, when a date may be set for his trial by jury.