A convicted sex offender who told police that he would abuse kids has been placed under supervision for three years.
Drunken Thomas Connelly (55), who wanted to get himself arrested, made the vile comments to police after using the 999 phone line to call officers to his home in Hilton, Cowie, on December 17 last year.
Stirling Sheriff Court heard last Wednesday that police had earlier been alerted to Connelly’s behaviour by mental health workers.
When police arrived, they were first met with a barrage of abuse, Connelly calling the officers “f*****g c***s”.
Fiscal depute Scot Dignan told the court that police officers spent some time with Connelly because of his mental state and an earlier comment he made about self harming.
Mr Dignan added: “Thereafter he was demanding to be arrested. He stated that he would re-offend and then he repeatedly used the phrase ‘I will f*****g abuse wee boys’ and ‘I will f*****g re-offend if you c***s don’t do something’.”
He was then arrested and appeared from custody at Stirling Sheriff Court last month where he pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting, swearing and threatening to abuse children.
The court heard at that appearance that Connelly had previous convictions for a sexual offence and gross indecency dating back to the 1980s and 90s . It was also heard that he was currently the subject of an interim sexual offences prevention order.
Bail was refused on that occasion and Connelly was remanded in custody for the preparation of reports. He was back in court for sentencing.
His solicitor Mr Grant said that the matter was “a very complicated case”.
The court was told that Connelly had initially gone to his own doctor to help him address “inappropriate thoughts” but had later turned to alcohol “as he did many times in the past”.
As regards the December offence, Mr Grant said: “This matter was simply a further instance of a cry for help by Mr Connelly.”
The court heard that Connelly was now engaging fully with his own GP and mental health services. The solicitor added: “This shows that he wants to tackle these problems.”
Sentencing, Sheriff William Gilchrist told Connelly: “Clearly there are other underlying concerns and problems.
“I accept the recommendation that you require monitoring, supervision and support within the community.”
On this basis, Sheriff Gilchrist imposed a community payback order with three years’ supervision.
