Man, 55, who invited girl, 13, to his home for sex released from custody
Last updated 4th Jan 2024
Sentence has been further deferred on a 55-year-old man who invited a 13-year-old girl to his home in Selkirk for sex.
Murray Ballantyne spent Christmas and New Year behind bars to allow a background report on him to be prepared, after failing to attend an appointment with a social worker.
He previously admitted a charge of communicating indecently with a child.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard Ballantyne - who has previous convictions for speeding and firearms offences - spoke about his private parts and asked the youngster things about her underwear during a series of telephone exchanges between February and May, 2022.
He was only caught after the teenager's older sister saw messages between the two on her phone and alerted police.
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Ballantyne, of Elm Row, Selkirk, had given the girl his number "in case she ever wanted anything" after meeting her in town, and went on to buy e-cigarettes for her on various occasions, despite knowing she was underage.
He also admitted stealing alcohol from the Aldi store in Hawick, as well as failing to appear at an earlier court hearing.
When the case recalled at Jedburgh Sheriff Court today (Thursday), sentence was deferred to Selkirk Sheriff Court on January the 22nd to allow the Sheriff who initially heard the facts to decide the appropriate sentence.
And Ballantyne, who remains on the Sex Offenders Register, has been released from custody, on bail, meantime.
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