A SEX offender has been remanded after breaching a community payback order (CPO) for the second time.

Alloa's Adam Anderson was taken into custody when he appeared for sentencing at Alloa sheriff Court on Thursday, December 3.

The 21-year-old was placed on the CPO with supervision back in 2018, after being convicted of sexually assaulting two children.

A report alleging he was in breach of the order was submitted to Alloa Sheriff Court on March 4 this year.

The report claimed Anderson communicated online with a 16-year-old girl, including by sending her an intimate image and asking her for an image in return.

It also alleged he resumed a friendship with a male friend who is himself a registered sex offender, with pending matters against him.

Under the conditions of his CPO, Anderson is not allowed to have contact with anyone under 18 unless his supervising officer authorises it

In court last week, there was some confusion as to how much of the breach Anderson had admitted during a previous court hearing.

Solicitor Lynn Swan said that on September 15, her client admitted having contact with a 16-year-old girl online, but denied any transfer of images.

Sheriff Simon Collins QC said: “I’m concerned about that, because it’s obviously a significant detail.”

He claimed the matter may need to go to a proof in mitigation hearing at a later stage to determine the extent of the breach.

But he added: “Basically, it doesn’t matter if he sent the photographs. He was in breach.”

The sheriff then outlined Anderson’s history of sexual offending.

As the Advertiser previously reported, Anderson was found guilty of two sexual assault charges at Alloa Sheriff Court in October 2018.

Sheriff David Mackie convicted him of slapping and grabbing the buttocks of two girls - aged 13 and 14 – and later placed him on a CPO for the offences.

The following month, Anderson was found guilty at Stirling Sheriff Court of two other - almost identical - sexual offences, committed against two females aged 17 and 23.

Sheriff Simon Collins QC convicted him of those sexual assault charges, and imprisoned Anderson in HMYOI Polmont for six months.

Against that background, Sheriff Collins told the court last week that he was “extremely concerned” about Anderson’s offending.

In particular, he said he was concerned that Anderson’s breaches may lead to an “escalation” in his offending.

The sheriff also noted this was Anderson’s second breach of the CPO, and said Anderson had also previously breached licence conditions upon his release from custody.

Ms Swan, in explaining how the latest breach came about, said: “This is a girl he made contact with via a self-harm support group online.”

And, referring to a background report, she added that her client “suffers from anxiety” and found it difficult to communicate with social workers supervising him.

Sheriff Collins interjected, and said: “He has not been open and honest and has been deliberately deceptive.

“He has not been telling the social workers things that they need to know and that they should know.

“His motivation was he thought he would get away with it.”

The sheriff also noted there was a suggestion in a background report that Anderson be assessed by a psychologist, and claimed this was something he was considering.

He said: “What’s in my mind is whether there are grounds for a sexual offences prevention order [SOPO].”

A SOPO is a restrictive order which prohibits sexual offenders from engaging in any behaviour specified in the order – such as contacting children.

Ms Swan asked for her client to remain in the community on bail while a psychological assessment was carried out.

She said: “He has been attending at court, and I don’t understand there to be any other cases outstanding against him.

“Your Lordship could make him subject to some form of special conditions.”

Sheriff Collins replied: “He won’t obey them.

“He continues to show a clear disregard for court orders.

“Mr Anderson has had an opportunity to serve a sentence in the community; he will be remanded today.”

Anderson, of Katrine Court, was then handcuffed by a police officer in the court room, and led from the dock to the cells.

His sentencing was deferred until December 14, to allow a psychological assessment to be carried out.

Victims of sexual offences can access information and support by calling 08088 01 03 02.