AN AYR creep found guilty of sexual acts with a child he 'groomed' has dodged jail for his 'heinous’ behaviour.

Andrew Webb had pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual assault but found guilty of sexual activity with an older child at his then home in Kincaidston.

A trial heard Webb had begged the 15-year-old boy not to go to the police after the incident, which happened in June 2022.

Webb was unanimously convicted on a charge of sexual activity with an older child following the trial at Ayr Sheriff Court.

When 40-year-old Webb returned to the dock to be sentenced following the preparation of a background report, the court heard social workers described him as having “groomed” the young teen – with his not guilty plea forcing the victim to give evidence during the trial.

The trial had been told Webb had searched the internet for “sentence for sexual assault”, “I think I’m sexually abusing someone”, and “how to tell family I’ve sexually assaulted someone” – after telling police “I think I know what I’ve done”.

Defence solicitor Quentin Muir said: “The way things are in the community, he has had some obvious difficulties.

“The [social work] report is very detailed. The author formed the view [Webb] was actively grooming the complainer. 

“There has been considerable level of social disapproval and a number of things done to his car and family home.”

Sheriff Mhairi MacTaggart said:  "It is very disappointing to read you didn't realise the seriousness of the offence or the effect it has had. I seriously hope you have had time to reflect on that.

"You were found guilty of an alternative offence which is nonetheless very serious.

“The question for me is whether to impose a period in prison or a long and vigorous community payback order.

“The reality is that with the sentencing powers I have, I couldn't sentence you to long enough [in prison] to address your behaviour.

“What you did was heinous.”

Webb was put on a community payback order with three years of social work supervision, and was also ordered to take part in the Moving Forward, Making Changes programme, which aims to address the behaviour of those convicted of sex offences.

He was also barred from having any contact with anyone under the age of 18, with internet use restricted and placed on the sex offenders register for three years.

The trial had been told that Webb, a former bar worker, performed a sex act on the child after the victim repeatedly told him to stop.

The court heard Webb had invited the teen to his home and had taken some cans of beer with him before drinking bottles of Budweiser after arriving at the property.

The boy had been sitting on a chair inside a gazebo while Webb was in a hot tub.

Giving evidence, the boy said: “He kept pushing his hands closer and started rubbing me. I was pushing his hands away.

“He pulled my trousers down and I was still in shock. He was leaning over as I sat on the chair – before I had time to react, he leaned out [the hot tub].”

The court heard that after the incident the victim went into Webb’s house and took bottle of beer from the fridge, then left around five minutes later.

The trial was told that the victim then phoned his mum to describe what had happened.

Fiscal depute Chris Munro said the boy later showed police a text message sent to him by Webb the next day, saying: “Afternoon, how’s you, hope you’re okay. If you’re drinking at weekend got you a wee gift.”

The boy replied: “No you’re all right, I don’t want a gift. I said no so many times and you just kept going.

“Don’t come f***ing near me or I’ll go to the police. Don’t even talk to us or message again.

“What you done was wrong and I tried pushing your hands away but it didn’t work. I couldn’t even sleep and trusted you.

“I never expected you to do that kind of thing and I was wrong.”

Webb replied: “Okay, understand and so sorry, I know I shouldn’t, so sorry. Don’t go to the police. I will never bother you again.”

Mr Muir asked the boy why he hadn’t simply turned on his heels and left as soon as the incident happened.

He replied: “I felt bad. He made me feel bad. He said something about shooting himself.

“I thought he would stop when I told him. I was begging him to stop and I never beg for anything.”

Mr Muir suggested to the boy that the incident was consensual, to which he replied: “I never once said aye. I didn’t allow it.”

After putting it to the teenager “you consented to all this”, the boy told Mr Muir: “That’s a load of bulls**t .

“He’s trying to get a shorter sentence because he’s a fat specky f**k – and you’re as bad.

“I froze and it ended up happening. I’m embarrassed it ended up happening. Who wouldn’t be?”

The court also heard from two police investigators, who told the court Webb had said to them “I think I know what I’ve done”.

He was also found to have searched online for “sentence for sexual assault”, “I think I’ve sexually assaulted someone”, and “how to tell family sexually assaulted someone”.

During a recorded police interview, Webb gave mainly “no comment” answers to police.

When asked about his own drinking at that time, he replied: “It doesn’t help my choices, that’s for sure.

“I maybe tried something with him. I think I done something wrong.

“Maybe I tried to touch him, but I don’t remember.”