Serial sex attacker bribed boys with games console codes

A sex attacker who preyed on young boys by bribing them with codes to use on their games consoles has been jailed.

Ross Brogan, 31, gave one victim more than £1,000 of tokens in exchange for indecent photos and videos.

The High Court in Glasgow heard the teenager even confided in Brogan, unaware he was his abuser.

The technician, who admitted his crimes last month after a major Police Scotland investigation, was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years.

He will also be supervised for three years on his release.

Judge Bruce Erroch KC told the first offender: "You are a mature man who chose to act as you did.

"It was clearly planned, calculated and the opposite of spontaneous.

"You targeted individuals who were vulnerable due to their youth."

Brogan, of Finnieston, Glasgow, mainly committed his crimes in different locations in South Ayrshire.

The court heard he posed as "ScottishLad2502" on Snapchat to target his unsuspecting victims.

The boy he went on to physically abuse was 13 when he accepted an anonymous friend request.

Brogan then began asking for photos in exchange for a £25 Xbox code.

The court heard his demands went on to become more sexual in nature.

Prosecutor Leanne Cross said Brogan would offer to leave Xbox codes or cash near the boy's home for him to pick up.

The court heard the sex offender ended up receiving around 150 photos and 50 videos of the boy.

Cross said: "These activities continued for several months despite the boy not knowing the identity of 'ScottishLad2502'."

The teenager received around £1,360 in Xbox codes as well as money.

The court heard the boy became concerned about what was happening and confided in Brogan, who he knew via others.

But Cross said he was "still unaware" who was behind the "ScottishLad2502" Snapchat account.

Brogan initially reassured the boy but then went on to ask for similar photos and videos to be sent to him.

He eventually sexually abused the teenager in 2020 and 2021.

On one occasion, £170 was left near a lamppost, close to the teenager's home, as "payment".

The victim's father took him to collect the money after being told his son had won it on YouTube.

But his parents were suspicious and eventually said they were going to contact the police.

Cross told the court: "The boy became upset and disclosed that someone had been giving him money for intimate photos via Snapchat."

The parents were described as "shocked and disgusted" before reporting what had happened.

Detectives initially could not trace the user of the "ScottishLad2502" account.

But Brogan was later questioned by officers and linked to the transfer of the games console codes.

He also targeted and demanded photos from a second boy from July 2020.

Cross told the court: "He said that if he did not do it then he would hurt him and his family."

Brogan paid this child £45 in PlayStation codes.

He also used Snapchat to make contact with a third victim.

The boy - who was given £75 of games console tokens - ended up sending photos to Brogan, who also forwarded anonymous indecent pictures of himself.

The victim eventually blocked him after he started asking questions about his parents.

The court was further told Brogan contacted another boy on social media but he refused his demands when they met.

The technician admitted a total of six charges, including the rape of one of the boys.

Patricia Baillie, defending, said: "He does understand that there was a power imbalance between him and the boys. He is sorry for what he has done."

Brogan was put on the sex offenders list indefinitely.

The judge also further imposed non-harassment orders banning him from approaching or contacting the boys.

Det Insp Stephen Palmer praised the strength of the victims.

He added: "Brogan is a depraved sexual offender who gave no thought to his victims, just using them for his sexual gratification.

"These boys have been deeply impacted by his actions and I hope this sentence brings them some comfort."