Youth worker accused of sending sexual messages to 14-year-old

A voluntary worker with a Fife youth charity has gone on trial accused of sending messages of a sexual nature to a 14-year-old girl.

Stuart Gemmell met the teenager through the work he did with the charity in Dunfermline.

He was also involved in another charity for people with mental health problems.

Gemmell, 19, of Headwell Avenue, Dunfermline, denies that on various occasions between June 1 and July 12 last year he sent messages via Facebook and Snapchat containing indecent and sexual content to a girl who was under the age of 16.

Gemmell’s former friend, Luke Miller, 20, of Queen Margaret Fauld, Dunfermline, was another volunteer at one of the charities, a group aimed at young people in the town with an interest in music.

He told Dunfermline Sheriff Court he had known Gemmell from when they were in the Scouts together and they were “very close” friends after that.

However, they were no longer friends as a result of the incident leading to the court case, he added.

Mr Miller told the court the girl came up to him in the charity’s studio and told him about the messages which had been sent to her. He had told her to speak to the person in charge of running the charity.

Mr Miller said the messages had been of a sexual nature.

The trial was shown parts of Gemmell’s police interview where he admitted sending one message to the girl but denied others, sent around the same time.

In the interview Gemmell, also known as Bradshaw, admitted he was attracted to the youngster.

The trial was adjourned until June 28.