A PERVERT who was placed on the sex offenders register for historic offences against a child failed to tell police he was using an alias name.

Gianni Gradini was found guilty in 2013 of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards an 11-year-old girl in 1987 and 1988.

Gradini, 64, should have been sentenced for a breach of the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on Friday.

But his lawyer said Gradini, who formerly stayed in Whitecrook but is now living in Freelands Crescent in Old Kilpatrick, had suffered a diabetic seizure shortly before he was due to meet a social worker to have a background report prepared.

Gradini had previously pleaded guilty to failing without reasonable excuse to comply with the Act’s notification requirements - specifically by failing to notify police of his use of an alias, Ganna Del Greco, within three days.

The offence was committed on June 9, 2018.

Ann Lambie, defending, told Sheriff William Gallacher that Gradini had contacted her office to say he had been ill, and that Ms Lambie’s colleagues had passed on the information to West Dunbartonshire Council social workers.

But Sheriff Gallacher pointed out that Gradini had twice failed to comply with bail conditions in the past, and asked whether Gradini’s illness on that date had been vouched for.

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Sheriff Gallacher said: “The question is whether I believe him - and the offence itself is one which troubles me.”

Addressing Gradini directly, the sheriff said: “This is an important matter. I gave thought to whether I needed to remand you in custody to have this report prepared, so don’t kid yourself that it’s not serious.”

Gradini was released on bail, and was also told to come back to court on November 29 to be sentenced.