ALEXANDER MCKIE SHOCKS GALASHIELS AND PEEBLESHIRE WITH SEX OFFENSES AND CHILD ENDANGERMENT

In a series of disturbing incidents that have sent shockwaves through the communities of Galashiels and Peebleshire, Alexander McKie, a man with a troubling criminal history, has been brought to justice for serious offenses involving a minor. The details of his latest conviction reveal a pattern of behavior that has raised significant concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of previous legal measures.

In November 2015, McKie, aged 39 and residing at Barkinnie Prison in Glasgow, was convicted of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order. This order, initially imposed at Duns Sheriff Court in 2007 and renewed in 2012, was designed to restrict his contact with minors, specifically barring him from being in the company of children under the age of 16. Despite these restrictions, McKie was found in the company of a 14-year-old girl, an act that led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing.

The Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard that McKie admitted to violating the terms of the Prevention Order, which was due to remain in effect until 2017. As a result, he was sentenced to eight months in prison, a sentence that was back-dated to commence on September 17. This conviction underscores the ongoing concerns about repeat offenders and the challenges faced by the justice system in monitoring and controlling individuals with a history of sexual offenses.

Adding to his criminal record, McKie’s past includes a serious and disturbing incident from August 2001. At that time, he was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh for attempting to rape a four-year-old girl in her own home in Galashiels. The court was told that McKie, then 25 years old and a resident of Tweedholm Avenue, Walkerburn in Peebleshire, had tried to assault the young girl while she was in her residence.

During the trial, it was revealed that McKie had told the child that she was having a bad dream, attempting to justify his actions. The court heard that McKie posed an extreme risk to the community, leading Judge Lord Cameron to decide that he was too dangerous to be treated within the community setting. McKie pleaded guilty to the attempted rape in April of that year, and during police interviews, he expressed confusion and remorse, stating, “Maybe I was thinking it was my fiancée. I was trying it on,” and admitting that he only realized the full extent of his actions when questioned by authorities.

The court also learned that the incident occurred while the child’s mother was out for the evening, leaving her husband in the living room. He had been dozing when he heard screams and crying from his daughter’s room. Upon investigation, he discovered McKie, who had been drinking heavily that day, in the act. The defense argued that McKie had limited recollection of the event and was unable to fully explain his actions, only becoming aware of what had transpired during police interviews. McKie was described as a man of below-average intelligence but deemed sane and fit to stand trial.

Judge Lord Cameron emphasized the severity of McKie’s offenses, stating that alcohol consumption was no justification for such behavior. As part of his punishment, McKie was ordered to serve a four-year prison sentence, with an additional 18-month extended sentence following his release. During this period, he is subject to recall to prison if necessary. The court also mandated that McKie cooperate with available treatment programs, which he agreed to undertake at Peterhead Prison. His placement on the sex offenders’ register remains in effect, reflecting the ongoing concern about his potential risk to the community and the importance of monitoring individuals with such histories.