AN ALLOA man has won a battle with the courts after having his name taken off the sex offenders’ register.
Liam Rodgerson was convicted under the Communications Act after he admitted posting “sick jokes” online following the death of Alva schoolboy Scott Chiriseri.
Along with a co-accused, he appeared at Alloa Sheriff Court in August last year and both were sentenced to a period of supervision.
However, they were also placed on the register after Sheriff David Mackie found the material they posted contained a sexual element.
At the time, he told the court: “The comments were wholly-associated with the sexual abuse of children, making light of it, and turning it into sick jokes.”
Furthermore, the prosecutor in court, depute fiscal Iain Batho, also claimed the Crown Office’s sexual offences unit felt there had been a sexual element to the offence when it was carried out.
These assertions were disputed by both defence agents in court, arguing the comments were jokes in bad taste, made with “ignorance” of their effect.
Rodgerson successfully appealed the ruling when the case was heard in the High Court in Edinburgh on December 8.
As a result, the notification requirements imposed on him were quashed.
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