A FAIRLIE teenager girl has courageously spoken out about her horrifying ordeal after being 'groomed' by a 49-year-old 'family friend'.

Chantelle Dunbar, 18, has bravely waived her right to anonymity to speak out after her ordeal at the hands of Largs man Andrew Hughes.

She told the News how she received a number of alarming Snapchat messages from Hughes, including a request that she sent him a naked picture of herself.

Chantelle says she suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of Hughes' crimes.

He had denied any wrongdoing but was found guilty after trial of sending two grossly offensive, obscene or menacing Snapchat messages over a 12 month period.

It was only when Chantelle told her aunt what was happening that mum Denise became aware of the dark side of Hughes' character.

She said: "I was distraught when I found out what had been happening.

"I am so proud that Chantelle has been brave enough to waive her anonymity to speak about her ordeal. She has shown great courage to do so."

As well as the Snapchat posts, Chantelle said she was targeted during a sleepover at Hughes' property.

She said: “One night I was staying and he asked if I would sleep next to him and cuddle him on the couch. But I told him it didn’t feel right.

“He then texted saying he wished he was lying next to me, how beautiful I was and complimenting me saying if he wasn’t with his wife, and if I was older, he’d want to be with me.

“He made out it was a laugh and a joke but when he added me through Snapchat things became a nightmare.”

Chantelle revealed Hughes messaged her telling her “how crap his life was”, and says she repeatedly tried to block him.

On the social media app, the pervert also begged for nude photos after seeing an Instagram pic showing a pal hitching up Chantelle’s top to reveal a new tattoo.

It was at this point that Chantelle confided in her aunt.

She said she had kept quiet 'in case she got into trouble'.

Since being targeted by Hughes, Chantelle has quit her care home job in Largs and given up on rugby after previously playing for Ardrossan Accies.

Devastated Denise says was shellshocked when she discovered how Hughes had preyed on her daughter after believing him to be a family friend.

She said: "I was distraught for Chantelle when I found out. Her life has been destroyed.

"I can't believe Chantelle was targeted in this fashion - she was terrified.

"She had bottled it all up and eventually she was sitting in her aunt's house and she showed her the messages that Andrew Hughes had been sending her, which was when it all came to light.

"I have known Andrew for many years and this has come as a complete shock.

"Chantelle didn’t realise what he was doing was grooming her, and I think that’s what hit her really hard.

“He’s an absolute monster for doing this to my daughter - it breaks my heart to see her like this.”

Hughes was convicted at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court to have put Chantelle in a state of fear or alarm between April 2017 and April this year.

Sentence has been deferred until next month.