Oil worker sent 15-year-old girl S&M messages

A TEXAN oil worker, who was sending sado-masochistic messages to a girl on an internet chat room, was arrested when his ship docked at Leith.

Kevin Judson, 38, spent 600 hours online at his home near Houston, chatting with the East Lothian 15-year-old.

At Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Judson pleaded guilty to engaging the girl, now 17, in lewd and sexually explicit chat.

Fiscal Depute, Gillian More, said in May last year Judson sent a sado-masochistic message about the girl being blindfolded, tied up and naked.

Later, the girl's mother became concerned and contacted the police. Then in September this year, officers learned that Judson was on a ship berthed at Leith Docks.

Defence agent Gordon Stewart said the exchanges started as "innocent flirting", but became more serious.

Sheriff Nigel Morrison, QC, deferred sentence until January 8. Judson was remanded in custody and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.