Church leader sent indecent messages to vigilante who was posing as children

An Aberdeenshire church leader was caught sending indecent messages to a vigilante who had been posing as children, a court has heard.

Craig Ware, 41, admitted two offences of attempting to communicate indecently with children in Peterhead in 2024 and 2025. He thought one was a girl aged 13, and that the other was 14.

At Peterhead Sheriff Court, the first offender was given 300 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody.

Ware had been involved with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mintlaw.

However, the church told BBC Scotland News this was no longer the case following his arrest.

At the time of the offences it is understood Ware was serving as a counsellor - a volunteer leadership role that supports with overseeing the local congregation.

Ware, now of Inverness, admitted sending sexual written communications to an adult woman pretending to be a 14-year-old girl.

The incident happened between August 2024 and January 2025, in the Clerkhill area of Peterhead, and at Keycraft, at the Aberdeenshire town's Blackhouse Industrial Estate.

The other offence, between February and July 2025, involved the same adult, who he believed was a girl aged 13.

The court had previously heard the communications were with a member of an online child protection group which tries to identify people seeking out children on the internet.

The exchanges were later passed to the police, leading to Ware's arrest.

George Hilton-Rhind, defending, said Ware felt "disgusted" by his actions, and accepted full responsibility for his conduct.

The solicitor said custody was a possibility, but added that there was alternative option with a community-based disposal.

"He feels great remorse," he said.

Sheriff Robert McDonald said there was no question it was a "very serious" matter.

He said there was a high level of culpability and the potential for serious harm had children under 16 actually been involved.

However the sheriff said Ware was a first offender, and had pled guilty at an early stage.

As a direct alternative to custody, he ordered Ware to be supervised for three years, to carry out the maximum of 300 hours of unpaid work, and to take part in the Moving Forward to Change offender programme.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register for three years.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said it "unequivocally" condemned abuse in any form.

A statement to BBC Scotland News said: "We mourn with victims of abuse and are deeply concerned for all who may have been harmed or placed at risk.

"After learning of the arrest of local volunteer Craig Ware, we immediately removed him from his assignment. The conviction is a serious violation of both the law and the teachings of the church.

"Anyone involved in such activity should be subject to the full extent of the law and will face formal ecclesiastical review by local church leaders."