A POLICE officer who boasted on a social media platform about having sexual activity with his fictitious daughter has had his name placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 12 months.

Ryan Ballard claimed he was a father-of-three when he registered on ChatStop and sent a number of sexually explicit messages to an undercover police officer.

The 51-year-old constable - who resigned from Police Scotland on Sunday - said on his profile that he was a bisexual married man from Scotland with two sons aged 11 and 15 and a daughter aged nine.

Between May 15 and August 29 he sent a number of messages on the chatroom to the undercover officer talking about inappropriate behaviour towards the girl and what he had done sexually with her.

But Selkirk Sheriff Court was told that although Ballard was married at the time he had no children.

The undercover officer from the South East Regional Crime Unit in England reported the matter to the Internet Investigations Unit at Police Scotland and Ballard was suspended on August 31 when he was charged.

Ballard, who lives in Selkirk, has since split from his wife and is involved in a new relationship with a man who is standing by him.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of sending offensive messages and sexually explicit messages in regards to sexual activity with both older and younger children over the course of three months.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said: "This was not an isolated incident. There were two separate episodes in which he made these communications."

Defence lawyer Lynn Beaumont said her client was a first offender and was a low risk of re-offending.

She added that he no longer used the Internet.

She said: "He stays with his family in the attic and is isolated. He has lost many friends and colleagues as a result of this offence and the ability to integrate with others. He is disgusted by his behaviour."

Sheriff Donald Corke said: "It seems to me there is a significant sexual element to the charge."

But he accepted Ballard had lost a responsible job and had suffered socially and it was fortunate no real children were involved.

The sheriff imposed a 12 month Community Pay Back Order - as an alternative to custody - with supervision which would involve monitoring of any Internet access.

In addition he will be subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act for the next 12 months.