A HAWICK man who sent indecent messages to an 11-year-old girl has been jailed for 15 months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Paul Devins asked the youngster for a topless picture and told her she was “hot”.

He told told her he was 28 years old when in fact he was 48 at the time, after messaging her on photo and video sharing website Instagram.

Devins also sent her a picture of his manhood and was only caught when the girl’s mother came across the messages.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told the messages were “sexual in nature throughout”.

Devins, now 50, admitted repeatedly asking to see the girl in a state of undress at his home in Havelock Place and elsewhere between May 2021 and August 2021.

He also pleaded guilty to causing a child under 13 years of age to look at a sexual image; possession of indecent images of children; and taking or permitting to be taken indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children.

The court heard that Devins – who had been told the girl’s age and had previous convictions for sexual offences – also engaged in “numerous live chat calls” with the youngster.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said a community-based disposal could be imposed as an alternative to custody but sheriff Kevin McCarron said it was a serious charge and the court’s hands were tied.

He added: “It has reached the stage where the public and young girls in particular need to be protected from you.”

In addition to the jail sentence his name was placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.