A PERSISTENT online sex pest has been told to "stay off the internet" - and "stop talking".
James McCabe broke a court order imposed after a previous sex crime when he was found with a VPN on a device.
He insisted he didn't know what a VPN was and told a court he only used the internet for shopping and education.
The 76-year-old was sentenced in February 2022, including a five-year sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) with restrictions on his use of electronic devices.
He broke that in July 2024 but sentencing had been delayed. He claimed "pure ignorance" of what a VPN did.
At a hearing on March 3 at Dumbarton Sheriff Court, a defence solicitor withdrew from acting for McCabe, of Arran Place, Clydebank.
READ MORE: Clydebank OAP sex pest broke court order with VPN on laptop
Sheriff John McElroy KC then asked if the OAP wanted time to find a new lawyer.
"I don't have the money to pay for it," he replied.
"The court has to consider what to do next," said the sheriff. "You face fairly serious charges, as you know. Do you want to deal with the case yourself today?"
McCabe said: "I would prefer to get it over with."
Referring to a social work report, the sheriff continued: "It seems from what I'm reading here that you seem to suggest some of the blame for what has happened with the VPN is not really your fault because you didn't have access to the written terms of the sexual harm prevention order."
He added: "You signed it."
McCabe said: "I was not in court."
When the case resumed later, the sheriff said he was considering a community payback order (CPO) for the maximum three years.
"The CPO is to allow me to select different types of disposal to address your rehabilitation, protection of the public and the punishment part," explained Sheriff McElroy.
He reminded McCabe of the restrictions: only one mobile phone, one computer, and no downloading or installing of software to mask or delete browsing history.
"Basically, stay away from the internet, full stop," he said.
McCabe started to say, "Well..." and tried to state that he only went online for shopping and education.
The sheriff interrupted: "That's been your problem in the past."
"I have not reoffended," said the OAP.
"The best thing you can do is stop talking," interjected Sheriff McElroy.
McCabe added: "There's no way I'm going to reoffend."
He will be supervised by social workers for three years and must do 200 hours of unpaid work within the time.
And he will remain on the sex offenders register during that time.
The court was unable to confirm the original crime for which he was sentenced in 2022.
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