Man admits using fake Facebook account to groom young girls

A man who set up a fake Facebook profile to befriend young girls before offering them cash to “do business” with him is facing jail.

Richard Muir offered one 15-year-old girl cash for sex then asked if she had a friend who would meet him for sex when she refused.

Muir then moved on to another girl of the same age – offering cash, cigarettes and mobile phone top-ups as well as asking her to send her pictures of herself.

The father-of-one admitted trying to groom the girls knowing that they were both 15.

Muir was caught when his girlfriend told police he had admitted setting up the fake account to meet young girls.

He set up a fake Facebook page using the name John Smith, but used his real date of birth revealing he was 30.

One of the messages Muir sent the first girl read: “When you going to be able to meet me? How much do you want for it? £50, is £50 OK?”

When she rebuffed his advances he said: “Name your price.”

Muir, 32, of Ellengowan Drive, Dundee, pleaded guilty on summary complaint to two charges under the Communications Act, committed between September 1 2015 and November 2 2015 at addresses in Dundee.

Solicitor advocate Jim Laverty, defending, said he would give a full plea in mitigation at a later sentencing date.

Sheriff Alastair Carmichael deferred sentence until later this month for social work background reports and ordered Muir to appear on that date.

He was placed on the sex offenders register in the meantime.