A SEX offender who deleted texts without telling police dodged jail after further enquiries were ordered into his messages.

Scott Wylie, 44, pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of a sexual offences order which prohibited him from deleting the internet history on any digital devices he owns which can access the web.

Wylie admitted deleting the text messages and other electronic communications he had sent without the knowledge of the offender management unit responsible for managing him.

The offence was committed on a number of occasion between January 13 and October 1,2021 at Wylie’s home address in Wardlaw Crescent, Loans, Troon.

Prosecutors accepted a not guilty plea to a second alleged breach of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, this one relating to ownership of a TV and computer games console which were both capable of accessing the internet.

Wylie’s order was originally imposed at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on December 1, 2020.

Sheriff Siobhan Connelly previously deferred sentence for a criminal justice social work report and restriction of liberty order assessment – telling Wylie to cooperate fully with social

workers.

When he appeared in the dock last month [September 16] his defence solicitor Stephen Maxwell suggested the messages deleted had already been viewed by police with Sheriff Desmond Leslie demanding further information before sentencing.

He said: “This is a serious matter Mr Wylie – you know what you deleted but I’m going to get the Crown to make further enquiries.”

When he returned to Ayr Sheriff Court last week [Tuesday, October 11] Sheriff Leslie told Wylie he would do 200 hours unpaid work in a community payback order as an alternative to custody

He told the offender: “This is a serious offence. If this order is not adhered to you can expect a jail sentence.”