A MAN who uttered threats of a sexual nature to a teen girl while in Clydebank has been branded a “serious risk to the community”.

Graeme Scott, 34, pleaded guilty in April at Dumbarton Sheriff Court to five charges, all of which included behaving in a threatening or abusive manner likely to put people into a state of fear and alarm.

Prosecutor Aga Mathieson told the court before sentencing on Friday that Scott committed the offences via a messaging service and uttered threats of a sexual nature as well as racial threats.

On February 18, 2016, at a property in Glasgow and at a house Clydebank, he contacted a 13-year-old girl via a social media network and uttered threats of a sexual nature and also made racial threats.

He committed similar offences to a young woman on February 17 and February 20, repeatedly contacting the woman, despite being asked not to.

Then, on February 29, 2016, at a property in Alexandria and at the Clydebank property, he contacted a 14-year-old girl via a social media network and made similar sexual and racial threats.

He contacted the same girl via her mobile telephone on March 8, 2016, uttering threats, threats of a sexual nature and racial threats.

Scott also admitted to making threats of a sexual and racial nature on various occasions between December 31, 2016 and January 3, 2017, while on bail from July 6, 2016.

Defence lawyer Judith Reid told the court: “He has been in custody since January 9 and pleaded guilty at an early stage.

“He does not offer much of an emotional explanation as to how these offences transpired. He used cannabis at the age of 16 and started again four or five years ago.

“He is not a chronic alcoholic but abuses alcohol. These offences took place at night when he was not stone cold sober.”

Sheriff William Gallacher told Scott: “Over a prolonged time you uttered threats of a sexual nature to a variety of young women who didn’t want your attention. Your comments were insidious, alarming and distressing.

“I have listened very carefully to everything that has been said on your behalf. Aside from the fact they were messages and there was no physical contact I consider you pose a serious risk to the community.”

Scott, of Auchenreoch Avenue, Dumbarton, was jailed for two years and will be on licence for a further two years upon his release.

He was also put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for an indefinite period. The jail sentence was backdated to January 9, when he was first taken into custody.

Responding to the case, a spokesman for NSPCC Scotland said: “This case highlights some of the dangers children and young people can be exposed to online via social media sites and apps.

“Scott targeted these young girls and bombarded them with a string of abusive messages, despite their pleas for him to stop. Just because abuse doesn’t take place face to face doesn’t make it any less serious and it is vital incidents such as these are reported so people like Scott can face the authorities.

“Parents must also talk to their children about what they are doing online and make them aware of the risks they can be exposed to on the online world. Children can call Childline at any time on 0800 1111.”

“Any adult concerned about a child can contact us for free on 0808 800 5000. Children can call Childline at any time on 0800 1111.”