HOLYWELL SEX OFFENDER CALLUM MACDOUGALL CAUGHT WITH 174 CHILD SEX IMAGES IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Holywell, Callum MacDougall, a known sex offender, was found to be in possession of a staggering 174 explicit images involving children. The incident was brought to light during a court hearing at Mold Crown Court in July 2023, where MacDougall faced serious allegations and was warned that he was 'on thin ice' regarding his future freedom.

MacDougall, aged 33 and residing on Abbots Walk in Holywell, admitted to creating and downloading these disturbing images, which directly violated the terms of his Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). The court was informed that this order was initially imposed after MacDougall was convicted in 2016 for downloading explicit images of children. Further, in 2019, he was prosecuted for inciting a child to engage in sexual acts, highlighting a troubling pattern of offending behavior.

The SHPO was designed to monitor MacDougall’s online activity closely, restricting his access to the internet and preventing him from viewing or sharing such material. Despite these restrictions, police discovered last January that MacDougall had reverted to his previous habits. Investigators found that he had conducted web searches using terms like 'young' and 'teen,' which raised immediate concerns. A detailed review of his search history revealed that he had viewed a wide array of sexual images involving very young girls, some as young as one year old.

In total, authorities identified that MacDougall had viewed 174 explicit images across his tablet and laptop devices. Further forensic analysis uncovered that he had attempted to conceal his activities by using software designed to hide his identity online. This included efforts to access social media platforms and cloud storage services under false pretenses, indicating a deliberate attempt to evade detection.

During the court proceedings, Recorder Greg Bull expressed his reluctance to send MacDougall to prison, emphasizing that he was 'on thin ice.' The judge made it clear that if MacDougall breached the conditions of his suspended sentence, he would face immediate imprisonment. As a consequence, MacDougall was sentenced to two years in prison, but this sentence was suspended for two years. The court also ordered him to complete a rehabilitation program and undertake 200 hours of unpaid community service. Additionally, his SHPO was extended by another ten years, ensuring continued supervision and restrictions.

Earlier in October 2019, the court heard a heartbreaking statement from the mother of one of MacDougall’s victims. She recounted the devastating impact his actions had on her daughter, who was coerced into performing sex acts on a live webcam. The mother described how her daughter had been subjected to vile messages and urged to expose herself, which had left her emotionally scarred. The social media platform involved alerted authorities in the United States, who then contacted the National Crime Agency (NCA).

When questioned by police, the young girls claimed they had not been coerced but were simply 'messing about.' Nevertheless, the NCA passed the information to North Wales Police, leading to MacDougall’s arrest in February. During police interviews, MacDougall claimed to be sickened by his own actions and stated that he was isolated, with no contact with his own child. He also revealed that he had been bullied at school and suffered from low self-esteem, factors he suggested contributed to his offending.

He denied recalling the specific broadcast involving the girls, claiming he thought they were 13 or 14 years old. However, the court noted that his inability to remember the incident hindered the probation service’s efforts to fully understand his motivations. It was evident that MacDougall held distorted perceptions of children as sexual objects, and his deviant thought processes were deeply ingrained. Until he addressed these issues openly, the court determined that the risk he posed could not be effectively managed.

Previously, MacDougall had been subjected to a lengthy community order aimed at addressing his problematic behavior through an internet sex offender program. Despite this, further evidence emerged when his former partner discovered indecent images of children on his mobile phone. When confronted, MacDougall begged her not to report him to the police. Nonetheless, authorities were informed, and subsequent investigations uncovered additional indecent images and movies on his devices, including chat logs that revealed fantasy conversations with others sharing similar material. It was also discovered that he had failed to provide correct login details for his Dropbox and Kik Messenger accounts, which hindered a full assessment of his offending.

Ultimately, MacDougall was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years, marking a significant step in addressing his disturbing pattern of behavior and protecting the community of Holywell from further harm.