The teenager who raped and murdered six-year-old Alesha MacPhail was allegedly linked to a convicted sex offender in the months before the killing.
Aaron Campbell, 16, was said to have been in regular contact with Zanythe Harrison, 38, who groomed a 14-year-old girl on the Isle of Bute to perform webcam sex shows for paedophiles.
The mother-of-four avoided jail in 2008 after admitting directing the shows involving a 14-year-old girl at a flat.
A source close to Harrison told the
Daily Record that Campbell, who also lived on Bute, often came into contact with her thanks to a mutual acquaintance before he killed Alesha last July.
One Bute resident told the newspaper: 'Obviously Campbell was obsessed with dark things on the web and I'm sure he would have known about Zanythe's convictions.
'He maybe thought sex offenders don't get that much of a punishment. This could have played a part in his twisted crime if he thought he would get away with it.'
Aaron Campbell (left), 16, raped and murdered six-year-old Alesha MacPhail (right) last July
Harrison, who was a ballet dancer, received three years' probation after plying the girl with alcohol and making her perform the sexually explicit shows.
She claimed at Greenock Sheriff Court that a man from England, 'Mr X', was actually the culprit and had been threatening her. She was put on the sex offenders' register.
Last Friday, Campbell was unmasked as the teenage killer of Alesha after a judge lifted a ban on revealing his identity.Campbell lived on the same road as Alesha's grandparents on the Isle of Bute, where he snatched the schoolgirl from her bed and raped her last July.
Alesha was days into her summer holiday on the island when her body was found dumped in nearby woodland with more than 100 injuries.A nine-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow heard Campbell drank alcohol, used cannabis, and hosted a party of around 15 friends at the home he shared with his housekeeper mother earlier on the night he abducted Alesha.
CCTV footage from his mother's own security system provided the evidence detectives needed to prove he had left the property in Rothesay at the crucial time.
She had contacted police herself, hoping the footage would eliminate her son from the investigation.
Campbell was captured coming and going from his home several times in the early hours of July 2, removing items of clothing and retrieving a torch.
Alesha's mother Georgina Lochrane (left) and father Robert MacPhail (right) outside Glasgow High Court last week. Both of the girl's parents were present during the nine-day trial
He had earlier tried to contact Alesha's father Robert MacPhail and his partner Toni McLachlan, thought to have been seeking to buy cannabis as he had done from Mr MacPhail in the past.
A jury found Campbell guilty of rape and murder unanimously on Thursday. Media organisations then applied to have a ban on revealing his identity lifted.
Scots law prohibits the naming of under 18s who are the subject of criminal proceedings. Lord Matthews opted to lift the ban in the case which he said had caused 'such revulsion'.
Alesha's mother Georgina Lochrane was at Glasgow High Court to hear the judge's decision on Friday. Campbell will be sentenced on March 21.
Lord Matthews warned the teenager, currently being held at Polmont Young Offenders Institute, that he may never be released from custody.
Aaron Campbell (left), 16, raped and murdered six-year-old Alesha MacPhail (right) last JulyHarrison, who was a ballet dancer, received three years' probation after plying the girl with alcohol and making her perform the sexually explicit shows.She claimed at Greenock Sheriff Court that a man from England, 'Mr X', was actually the culprit and had been threatening her. She was put on the sex offenders' register.Last Friday, Campbell was unmasked as the teenage killer of Alesha after a judge lifted a ban on revealing his identity.Campbell lived on the same road as Alesha's grandparents on the Isle of Bute, where he snatched the schoolgirl from her bed and raped her last July.Alesha was days into her summer holiday on the island when her body was found dumped in nearby woodland with more than 100 injuries.A nine-day trial at the High Court in Glasgow heard Campbell drank alcohol, used cannabis, and hosted a party of around 15 friends at the home he shared with his housekeeper mother earlier on the night he abducted Alesha.CCTV footage from his mother's own security system provided the evidence detectives needed to prove he had left the property in Rothesay at the crucial time.She had contacted police herself, hoping the footage would eliminate her son from the investigation.Campbell was captured coming and going from his home several times in the early hours of July 2, removing items of clothing and retrieving a torch.
Alesha's mother Georgina Lochrane (left) and father Robert MacPhail (right) outside Glasgow High Court last week. Both of the girl's parents were present during the nine-day trialHe had earlier tried to contact Alesha's father Robert MacPhail and his partner Toni McLachlan, thought to have been seeking to buy cannabis as he had done from Mr MacPhail in the past.A jury found Campbell guilty of rape and murder unanimously on Thursday. Media organisations then applied to have a ban on revealing his identity lifted.Scots law prohibits the naming of under 18s who are the subject of criminal proceedings. Lord Matthews opted to lift the ban in the case which he said had caused 'such revulsion'.Alesha's mother Georgina Lochrane was at Glasgow High Court to hear the judge's decision on Friday. Campbell will be sentenced on March 21.Lord Matthews warned the teenager, currently being held at Polmont Young Offenders Institute, that he may never be released from custody.
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