A sex offender who dodged jail when he was stung sending indecent messages to what he thought was a girl aged 13 has now been caged for failing to appear in court.

William Falconer, 35, was caught sending indecent messages and pornographic links to what he thought was a 13-year-old girl in Irvine’s Clark Drive between March 21 and March 28 last year.

He was due to appear for a Community Payback Order review hearing this week [Monday, April 19] however a warrant was issued for his arrest after the offender failed to appear - having been previously been put under supervision with no unpaid work last year [November 17,2020].

A Police Scotland spokesperson told the Times last Wednesday [April 21] that enquiries were ongoing to trace the offender and he was later arrested and back in court today [April 22].

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

A spokesperson said: "A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an outstanding warrant and is due to appear at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.

"A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."

Falconer had his order revoked and he was given 12 months imprisonment when he was brought back before the court.

The sex offender was also told he will now be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Falconer, most recently of Princes Street, Ardrossan, admitted last year attempting to cause what he believed to be an older child to participate in sexual activity, look at sexual images and communicate indecently through sending written messages of a sexual nature, links to pornography and encouraging them to perform a sex act.

He was later fined £240 for shouting, swearing and uttering offensive remarks in Irvine High Street in August 2019 while repeatedly pressing a buzzer and kicking the door as well as stealing alcohol from Aldi in Saltcoats on October 2019 with both offences committed while on bail granted on April 30 2019.