OAP placed on sex register

Seventy year-old Desmond Cannon had previously pleaded guilty to offering to perform sex acts on the youngster and inviting him into his Charles Street home in Hawick on the morning of July 9.

The alarmed schoolboy left the scene and told his parents, and they informed the police about Cannon’s approach to their son.

Cannon, a first offender, confessed to police officers that he had “made inappropriate comments to the laddie” and that he had been in the wrong.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said: “He is now 70 years of age and he has never been in trouble before.

“But he has done something extremely stupid here.”

Sheriff Peter McCormack told Cannon he had pled guilty to making highly inappropriate comments to a 14-year-old boy.

But he took into account his age and the fact he was a first offender by imposing a fine of £400 with a Victim Surcharge of £20.

In addition, his name was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of five years.