In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Lee O’Regan, 23, of Ladyford Avenue, Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, admitted to a “predatory” campaign of grooming and indecent communication targeting three schoolboys. On appearing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court in February 2026, it was reported that the defendant used vapes and gift cards as “bribes” to exploit teenagers as young as 14. The court reported that O’Regan targeted the boys via Snapchat and FaceTime between late 2023 and August 2024.
The investigation established that O’Regan initiated contact with the first victim during a group FaceTime call, eventually providing the teen with free items to build rapport. Police Scotland reported that the defendant then demanded pictures of the child’s “socked feet” in return for the gifts. The prosecution reported that when the victim complied, O’Regan escalated his behaviour by sending a video of himself performing a sex act while moaning the child’s name in Ardrossan and Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that O’Regan targeted two other 14-year-old boys who were friends with the first victim, using his reputation for “gifting” vapes to gain access to them. Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard how he sent naked images of himself to the teens and questioned why they had not “winched” (kissed) him during a meeting in his car. The prosecution reported that O’Regan was apprehended after one of the boys confessed the situation to his aunt, leading to the defendant voluntarily attending Irvine Police Office and admitting, “I f****d up.”
The judge noted the calculated nature of the grooming, where O’Regan intentionally created a sense of obligation in the children through the provision of vapes and gift cards. For his actions in Kilwinning and Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, O’Regan pleaded guilty to three charges, including causing children to look at sexual images and communicating indecently. The judge noted that the defendant’s immediate addition to the Sex Offenders Register was a necessary step for public protection while he awaits final sentencing.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Scotland, Lee O’Regan was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: [Awaiting sentencing – currently released on bail].
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated immediately.
- Judicial Oversight: Convicted at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court following guilty pleas.
- Criminal Record: Convicted of causing children to view sexual images and indecent communication.
- Origin: Ladyford Avenue, Kilwinning, North Ayrshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
O’Regan is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Police Scotland and the National Probation Service in the North Ayrshire area. Due to his history of using encrypted messaging and “gifting” to groom children in Kilwinning and Ardrossan, his management is subject to intensive monitoring by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, O’Regan must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence. Authorities state that his history of bribing minors with vapes to facilitate sexual exploitation necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct and digital access. Any further sexual misconduct or breach of his bail conditions in Kilwinning, Irvine, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for a custodial sentence.
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