Man, 55, who invited girl, 13, to his home for sex is sentenced
A 55-year-old man who invited a 13-year-old girl to his home in Selkirk for sex has been given a four-month home curfew and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.
Murray Ballantyne spoke about his private parts and asked the youngster things about her underwear during a series of telephone exchanges in 2022.
He was only caught after the teenager's older sister saw messages between the two on her phone and alerted police.
Selkirk Sheriff Court heard Ballantyne - who lives in the town's Elm Row - 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.
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Ballantyne previously admitted a charge of communicating indecently with a child, and 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.
The night-time curfew means he must stay at home between the hours of 8pm and 7am for the next four months.
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