Trial delay for Albion youth coach

The trial of a Stirling Albion youth development coach, accused of bombarding four boys, one as young as 11, with sexual internet messages, has been postponed until September.

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

Alexander Robertson, 21, is said to have“repeatedly”sent 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” his alleged victims.

The messages are said to have been sent on a number of occasions over a period of some three-and-ahalf years 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 in Bridge of Allan, and at other locations in Scotland including Dunblane, Stirling, Clackmannanshire, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Robertson, of Fishers Green, pleads not guilty to five charges, under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act.

He was scheduled to face trial by jury at Falkirk Sheriff Court yesterday (Tuesday) but Sheriff Craig Caldwell, sitting in chambers, agreed to a joint prosecution/ defence motion to postpone the proceedings until September 24, due to lack of time in this week’s sitting.

Robertson was suspended by the club when the allegations came to light last year. His trial is expected to last several days.