News / Unpaid work for sex with minor
A SHETLAND teenager who admitted having sexual intercourse with a minor at his Lerwick home has been ordered to register as a sex offender.
At Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday, Liam Nicol, of 19 Hjaltland Place, was ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work as part of an 18 month supervision order for the offence, which took place while he was drunk on 8 July.
The court heard that Nicol, who was 18 at the time, had been warned by work colleagues and friends about having sex with the girl who was less than 15 years old. She was one of a group of youngsters “hanging out” at his home at lunchtime.
Sheriff Napier added that one worrying factor was that the girl’s mother had even allowed her to stay overnight at the address. There is no longer any contact, he was told.
Defence agent Tommy Allan said that Nicol had taken full responsibility for his actions and realised how serious the offence was. He said he had been the subject of considerable abuse as a result and since given up his job.
“It’s something he has obviously deeply felt the stigma attached to this and I am sure that will have a deterrent effect on him,” he said.
Calling it “a very serious offence”, Sheriff Napier said: “You were getting on for 19 years of age and she was four and a half years younger than you. That might not be a huge age difference for people who are in their 40s or 50s, but it is at that age.”
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