Glenmore Lodge instructor exposed as pervert by paedo hunters
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A head instructor at Scotland's national outdoor training centre in Glenmore – who taught children and adults to kayak, canoe and paddleboard – has been unmasked by paedophile hunters as a sex offender.
David Rossetter, known to his pupils as 'Dave', sent someone he thought was a 13-year-old schoolgirl a video of himself naked and carrying out a solo sex act.
Rossetter, who studied high performance coaching at the University of Stirling and adventure sports coaching at Glasgow Kelvin College, asked her "did you enjoy seeing me?" and begged her to send him "naughty pics".
Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that the recipient of his sex chat was in fact an adult decoy from English online paedophile exposure organisation Justice4Kids, who handed a dossier to police.
Officers arrested the married 47-year-old dad at his place of work – sportscotland's Glenmore Lodge, near Aviemore – where he was head of paddlesports.
Prosecutor Sean Maher said that in November 2019, Rossetter contacted the decoy, whose profile, 'Turnaround 31', was set up to show she was a 13-year-old girl, on an anonymous chatroom service, using the profile name UKOlderGuy.
Mr Maher said: "The decoy engaged him in conversation, immediately making reference to being 13 years old age.
"He stated in response he was a 46-year-old man.
"He asked if she liked sex chat and gave her a mobile number and asked her to add him on WhatsApp."
A short time later she received a WhatsApp message using Rossetter's real name and photo, saying "Hey there, Dave here."
Mr Maher said: "The conversation quickly turned sexual. He asked what turned her on.
"The decoy continually made references to being 13.
"He asked if she'd like to see him naked, and told her she wouldn't get into trouble for looking.
"He asked to video call her, telling her to turn off the sound and watch him."
Mr Maher described how Rossetter was aroused, naked, and performed a solo sex act to completion before ending the video call.
Rossetter asked also her if she had ever 'touched her flower' and made even more graphic references, before asking the decoy to again go on video call so he could perform a sex act while she was watching.
When she asked why, he said: "Because I would love to see your reaction".
The court heard that Rossetter chatted with the decoy again on ChatIW, less than two months later, and she realised he was unaware he had contacted her before.
After she opened the conversation with "Hiya, I'm 13" he quickly stated, "I like to sext" and asked her to go on webcam and send him "naughty pics and chat of your body".
Mr Maher said: "This request was refused.
"At no time did the decoy encourage Rossetter's behaviour.
"The conversations culminated in a report being made to Greater Manchester Police, with screenshots and videoclips of material send to her by Rossetter.
"A review of this showed that almost all of the chat from Mr Rossetter was of a sexual nature."
He was arrested at Glenmore Lodge at 1.26 am on February 21, 2020, and replied "no comment" to all the officers' questions.
Rossetter, of Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, now living in homeless accommodation, appeared for sentence on Thursday (January 28) having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to attempting to communicate sexually with a child for the purposes of obtaining sexual gratification or of humiliating, distressing or alarming her.
The court heard that Rossetter had now lost his job, his home, his wife, and contact with his own kids.
Solicitor Stan Quirk, defending, submitted that in the circumstances he did not need to be jailed.
Rossetter was ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, have three years' supervision and treatment under the Scottish Government's "Moving Forward, Making Changes" sex offenders' programme, and placed on the sex offenders register.
Sheriff Derek Hamilton also ordered he be reported to Scottish ministers for inclusion on the list of people unsuitable to work with children or vulnerable adults.
He said: "The charge speaks for itself.
"What is clear is that this offence has had quite a devastating effect on your life.
"Your marriage of 26 years appears to have been brought to a shuddering halt, you seem to now not have any contact with your children, you've lost your job, and clearly your chosen career is in jeopardy given the conviction which is now against your name.
"I don't seen there's any public interest in sending you into custody."
Leaving court, Rossetter refused to comment.
Glenmore Lodge revealed Rossetter had worked at the centre for seven years.
A spokesperson said: "Mr Rossetter was employed as an instructor in January 2013 following completion of all PVG checks.
"As soon as we were made aware of these charges in February 2020 we immediately suspended Mr Rossetter in line with a full and thorough internal investigation.
"We can confirm that Mr Rossetter's employment was subsequently terminated following the conclusion of this disciplinary process.
"The safeguarding of children and young people is of paramount importance to everyone at Glenmore Lodge and we continue to work to ensure that our robust policies and procedures are adhered to."
