A SICK student paedo branded one of Scotland’s most disturbing sex predators will be brought to justice on Wednesday (July 21) after a police operation which began in the Wee County.

 

Sex beast Andrew Byrne preyed on 19 boys and girls over a vile two year campaign of horrifying abuse. Cops snared the depraved 21-year-old microbiology student after uncovering online chats with a 13-year-old girl from Clackmannanshire.

In February, dangerous Byrne, formerly of Byres Road, Glasgow, admitted 32 offences against the youngsters between September 2007 and July last year.

 

Many were subjected to disgusting sexual abuse, others to indecent behaviour and the perverted student even admitted having unlawful sex with several of his young victims.

 

His crimes were described by Central Scotland procurator fiscal Michelle MacLeod as some of the most damaging and disturbing prosecutors had ever encountered.  

 

And at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday (July 19), deviant Byrne – appearing on his 21st birthday – was told he faces a lifetime under supervision to protect the public.

 

But judge Lord Brailsford delayed sentencing until Wednesday after fresh concerns were raised over the potential risk he poses to children.

 

Byrne – described by defence lawyer Brian McConnachie QC as a “loner” who began looking at pornography before moving on to contacting children –  submitted a letter to Lord Brailsford in which he accepted his “deviant sexual personality.”

 

Mr McConnachie went on to describe the likelihood of lifelong supervision as “draconian” and expressed fears it would have a marked effect on Byrne’s life.

 

However, Lord Brailsford then said: “I form that same view as well.”

 

Byrne is one of a string of paedos caught as part of Operation Defender, a Central Scotland Police campaign launched to snare internet predators.

 

The campaign began when investigators discovered online chats between the 13-year-old Wee County girl and several men, including Byrne.   

 

Detective Inspector Charlie Mitchell was pleased the case had come to an end.

 

He said: “Andrew Byrne was a prolific offender against young teens and children who he met on the internet using chat rooms. He had multiple victims, both boys and girls, who he groomed systematically over periods of time, committed offences against online and in some cases went on to meet and sexually abuse.

 

“Our priority during this operation has been to protect children, intervene to remove them from harm’s way and take action against those who have targeted them both in the online environment and directly and physically.”

 

He added: “Byrne’s victims were traced in Scotland, throughout the rest of the UK and abroad.

 

This shows that the reach of the internet can easily be exploited, but also indicates that we are committed to dealing with this issue wherever it happens.

 

“It is apparent there is a significant generation gap between young people and their parents and guardians over internet use.

 

“For many adults, the computer has effectively become a baby-sitter for their children and they believe as long as they’re in the house on the computer, they are safe.

 

“Investigations like this clearly show that is not the case.”