A FORMER bank manager caught trying to organise the rape of a 12-year-old girl is facing a life sentence.
Paul Chalmers, 68, believed he was chatting online with the girl’s mum, who instead was an undercover police officer posing as a decoy.
Chalmers arranged to meet the pair at an Edinburgh hotel, which he booked for January 25, 2024.
Instead, Chalmers was tailed by police officers and arrested.
The offence is Chalmers’ sixth conviction of a sexual nature, which stretches back to the year 2000.
Chalmers first received 250 hours of unpaid work for downloading 100 indecent images of children on his computer.
Chalmers, formerly of Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, resigned from his role at the Royal Bank of Scotland after 27 years due to the charges he faced.
He has also been jailed twice for communicating sexually with other decoys posing as 13-year-old girls.
Chalmers has now pleaded guilty at the High Court in Glasgow to attempting to conspire to commit rape and sexual assault.
He further admitted sending sexual communications to someone he believed was a child.
The court heard that Chalmers used the name ‘Pete67’ on the Chatiw app and spoke with a profile named ‘Megan Fraser’ – the 35-year-old mum of a 12-year-old girl.
Chalmers stated that he was 67, from Glasgow, and was employed in banking and stocktaking.
He said the girl was a “lovely age” and asked if she had “experience with a man.”
The chat continued over text messages where he stated that he was “sexually open-minded.”
Chalmers claimed that he would pay the woman £250 to have sexual contact with her daughter.
There was also talk of them meeting regularly for further sexual acts.
Prosecutor Caroline MacBride said: “Chalmers made arrangements with her to meet the 12-year-old at a Travel Lodge hotel in Edinburgh.
“He said he had booked a room and could meet them after 3pm.
“Chalmers used a credit card to pay for a family room for one night.”
Chalmers was arrested close to the hotel’s main door on January 25, 2024.
The hearing was earlier told how Chalmers had communicated with another undercover decoy posing as a 12-year-old girl around the same time.
He continued to chat with the decoy after she had told him her age, stating that he had met a 13-year-old in the past and had “sexual activity” with her.
Chalmers said that he liked “young girls”, was “sexually aroused” and said he would like to meet her before the communication was stopped.
The sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Judge Lord Mulholland, who continued Chalmers’ remand in custody.
The judge said: “All options are open including an order for lifelong restriction.
“You have a big problem and I have to protect the public from you – particularly young girls.
“Don’t be under any illusions of what is coming your way – this is the High Court and you pled guilty to serious offences.
“You should be ashamed of yourself.”