Stuart Moffett raped a 12-year-old child in his Hawick home after sending her a message on Snapchat

A man raped a 12-year-old child in a flat in the Scottish Borders after sending her a message on Snapchat.

Stuart Moffett attacked the minor child at an address in Hawick after contacting her via the social media site.

During the assault, he made sexual comments to the girl and touched and harassed her.

The 32-year-old, formerly of Selkirk, was accused of raping the girl in an attack on September 28, 2022.

He denied some aspects of the charges brought against him by prosecutors, but admitted having had sex with the girl.

Defence lawyer Iain Smith told the jury: “He has admitted to you that he is guilty of rape. Sex with a 12-year-old is rape.”

He asked the jury to convict Moffett of rape, but to drop parts of the charge.

But the jury found Moffett guilty of all charges against her.

The trial judge, Lord Clark, told him: “By the verdict of the jury you have been found guilty of the serious offence of rape of a child and, as you have heard, there are no strikes from the charge.”

The judge adjourned sentencing against Moffett until 2 August at the High Court in Glasgow and ordered a background report to be prepared on him.

Moffett, who was released on bail, was remanded in custody and placed on the sex offenders’ register.

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