Paedophile student to be sentenced
A student dubbed one of Scotland's most disturbing sexual predators will be sentenced today for a series of offences against children.
Andrew Byrne, 20, faces a lengthy jail term after admitting 32 charges related to the sexual abuse of children.
The microbiology student used the internet to groom and abuse 19 girls and boys during a two-year campaign of abuse.
He sexually assaulted some victims and subjected others to indecent behaviour between September 2007 and July 2009.
Byrne also had unlawful sexual intercourse with several of his young victims.
The predator was arrested as part of Operation Defender, a UK-wide investigation to snare internet paedophiles.
The major inquiry, led by Central Scotland Police, began after a case involving a 13-year-old girl who had communicated online with a number of men, including Byrne.
Byrne pleaded guilty to a catalogue of charges at the High Court in Glasgow earlier this year.
He will appear for sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh today.
