Mike Pringle, a Liberal Democrat member of the Scottish Parliament, said he had "considerable sympathy" for the position of charity Children 1st. The charity wanted MSPs to overturn a previous amendment to sexual grooming legislation in the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill, which removed references to the ages of offenders and victims (Children Now, 27 April-3 May).
The Bill had originally stated that it would be an offence for a person aged over 18 to meet a person aged under 16 after making preliminary contact.
But it was amended after other children's charities pointed out young people could exhibit sexually harmful behaviour.
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