Man (57) who groomed vulnerable young girl in Moray for seven years is jailed for 15 months

A FORMER Moray man who groomed a vulnerable young girl for seven years while repeatedly exposing himself to her has been jailed for 15 months at Inverness Sheriff Court.

Michael O'Hagan (57), originally of Little Hallam, Ilkeston, admitted two charges of indecent behaviour as he continually exposed himself to the girl, who was under the age of 16 at the time.

Defence solicitor advocate Clare Russell told the court that her client, who she said never sexually assaulted the girl, had been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.

She said to social workers who prepared a background report on him: "There is a good Michael and a bad Michael and it was bad Michael who did this."

But Sheriff Gary Aitken commented: "But he is responsible for what the bad Michael does."

Ms Russell continued: "He had been struggling with his mental health but he had not been diagnosed at the time of these offences. He is a Jekyll and Hyde character of sorts.

"He is horrified by his behaviour which was not contact offending. However he groomed a vulnerable person over a period of time."

Sentencing the 57-year-old, Sheriff Aitken told him: "This was a continuous course of abuse towards a young child over a seven-year period for your own sexual gratification.

"She will live with the consequences of this for the rest of her life."

O'Hagan was also placed on the Sex Offender's Register for seven years.