Moray sex offender jailed for approaching a vulnerable woman
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A persistent sex offender has been jailed for chatting up a vulnerable woman at a bus stop while banned from approaching females.
James Farquhar, from Portgordon appeared by video link at Inverness Sheriff Court earlier today.
Fiscal depute Alex Swain told the court that the 67-year-old had breached a court order while in the centre of Fochabers on September 10.
She added: "The woman was 43 years old with learning difficulties.
"She was approached by Farquhar who engaged her in conversation.
"He asked her personal questions and made comments which made her feel uncomfortable."
Ms Swain told the court the woman was upset and went to a nearby shop to tell the staff who then called the police.
Farquhar was originally jailed for 18 months nearly a decade ago after being convicted of sex offences at Elgin Sheriff Court in 2012.
He was also placed on the Sex Offender's Register indefinitely.
In July, 2016, Farquhar then had a Sexual Offences Prevention Order imposed on him for five years, prohibiting him from contacting any woman without the permission of his monitoring officer.
That ban was due to expire in July this year.
Farquhar admitted breaching the court order plus several others besides.
Defence solicitor Mike Chapman said: "He has a number of similar previous convictions and accepts that a custodial sentence is inevitable.
"He regret upsetting the woman."
Jailing Farquhar for 18 months backdated to September, Sheriff Sarah Matheson told him: "The fact you continue to breach these orders is a concern to the court."
