Farm Manager Admits Underage Sex

A farm manager has admitted having sex with a 12-year-old girl he was teaching to horse-ride. The High Court in Glasgow heard that 49-year-old Peter Bryant also admitted having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

John Halley, prosecuting, said Bryant, who worked on a Stirlingshire farm, encouraged the girls to learn to ride. Bryant admitted having sex with the 12-year-old on various occasions between October 1999 and January 2000. Sentence was deferred for reports. He also pleaded guilty to using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards the girl between December 1998 and January 2000.

Bryant further admitted a charge of having sex with the 15-year-old on various occasions in July 1999 and using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards her between August 1998 and July 1999. The court heard that while teaching them the basics of horsemanship he built up a relationship with both of them before going on to have sex.

Mr Halley said: “The offences came to light when the younger girl made a complaint to the police in 2003. Mr Bryant, who had moved to England, was arrested at his home in Kidderminster. He denied the allegations put to him, although he said he had had sex with the older girl when she was 17.”

During his court appearance Bryant also admitted failing to turn up for his High Court trial in February 2006. Mr Halley added: “He was arrested on a warrant in Portugal in September 2006 and has been remanded in custody since then.”

Judge Lord Kinclaven placed Bryant on the sex offenders’ register. He called for background reports and an assessment of the risk Bryant poses to young girls and deferred sentence until next month.

Frances McMenamin QC will give her plea in mitigation then.