A MAN from Greenock who sent sexual messages, voicemails and an explicit video to a girl under the age of 16 has avoided jail.

Samuel Mulholland, of Kirkwall Road, had plead guilty over the disgusting offences, which were carried out earlier this year.

The 37-year-old had sent verbal and written sexual communications to the teenager, who was over 13 but under 16, between April 30 and May 11.

He also sent an explicit video recording of himself and made arrangements to meet the girl and ask her to have sexual relations.

Mulholland appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for sentencing as the messages had been sent from an address within the jurisdiction of court, and elsewhere.

Defence solicitor Phil Lafferty admitted his client did not ‘appear to be taking full responsibility for the charges, the offending behaviour and does not appear to have presented himself with the utmost candour’.

But a sheriff told the court that he would be limited in the sentence he could impose on Mulholland — because the Crown had taken the decision  to prosecute him at summary, rather than solemn, level

Sheriff William Gallacher said: “I consider the court is impeded by the decision to prosecute on summary.”

It meant the maximum sentence he could impose would be eight months in prison, meaning Mulholland would be released after four and there would be no opportunity for supervision, something Sheriff Gallacher viewed was necessary.

He added: “It is almost incomprehensible the decision was taken to prosecute in this form.”

Sheriff Gallacher sentenced Mulholland to three years under supervision, which would include specialist programmes, and 300 hours of unpaid work in the community within the next 12 months.

He said: “If you fail within an inch, you will come back before me and you will be sent to prison.”

Mulholland will also be on the Sex Offenders Register for the three years of the community payback order.