Court / Man sent sexual messages to 14-year-old teenager

A THIRTY year old man from Staffordshire who sent sexually explicit Snapchat messages to a 14-year-old girl in Shetland has been put on the sex offenders’ register ahead of sentencing in July.

Jake Tuckwell, of Garfield Crescent, Stoke-on-Trent, tendered a plea of guilty to the charge when his case called at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Procurator fiscal Duncan Mackenzie told the court how Tuckwell had been briefly introduced to the complainer who had been friendly with one of his colleagues.

He later engaged with her in a Snapchat conversation during which she informed him that she was just 14 years of age.

The fiscal described how over time the messages from Tuckwell became increasingly sexual in content.

He added that the complainer felt “extremely uncomfortable” with Tuckwell’s conduct and started screenshotting his messages.

She then confided in a colleague and eventually management became aware of what was going on, with the police then informed.

Defence solicitor Tommy Allan said his client was unable to be in court because he was “clearly not well” and had been seeing his doctor.

Sheriff Ian Cruickshank asked for criminal justice social work and restriction of liberty reports, and ordered Tuckwell to be in court for sentencing on 3 July. His name has been added to the sex offenders’ register as of today.