CALLUM MAY FROM GLASGOW AND GREENOCK ESCAPES PRISON AFTER PREDATORY BEHAVIOR

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local communities of Glasgow and Greenock, Callum May, aged 44, narrowly avoided a prison sentence after being found guilty of engaging in sexual communication with a minor and attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes. The incident came to light after May’s online activities were monitored by a paedophile hunting team, revealing a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

May appeared before the Sheriff Court where he admitted to the charges against him. Court proceedings disclosed that May had initiated contact with an online profile he believed belonged to a 12-year-old girl. Over a period, he exchanged highly sexualized messages and images, clearly attempting to groom the child for sexual activity. However, it was later revealed that the supposed child was, in fact, an adult member of the paedophile hunting group ‘Groom Resisters Scotland,’ who pose online as minors to catch predators targeting children.

The court heard that in January 2018, May arranged to meet the girl. During this encounter, he told her he would bring condoms to prevent pregnancy, indicating his intent for sexual activity. However, upon arriving at the designated meeting spot, May was confronted by members of the hunting team. They questioned him about his online activities, and a team member promptly contacted the police. May was arrested at the scene, ending his attempt to meet what he believed was a child.

In sentencing, the judge imposed a community payback order that will last for three years. Additionally, May was ordered to register as a sex offender, a measure intended to monitor and restrict his future activities. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing efforts to combat online predatory behavior.

Further back in 2016, May’s predatory tendencies surfaced again when he re-established contact with an 11-year-old girl, despite her mother’s explicit warnings for him to stay away. Using the alias ‘Malcolm Gavin,’ May attempted to groom the girl, who was at the time a primary school student. Her mother recounted how May refused to heed her warnings and continued to message her daughter, even after being told to leave her alone.

The mother expressed her disbelief and disgust at May’s persistence, noting that he messaged her daughter again, asking how she was, despite knowing her age. To protect her child, the mother’s relative created a fake Facebook profile, which ultimately led to May’s exposure. He had arranged a late-night meeting in Greenock’s Barrs Brae area, believing he would meet a 15-year-old girl. Instead, he was confronted by a man who was recording the encounter on his phone. Startled, May ran away from the scene.

The mother further revealed that May had contacted her daughter in June of the previous year, when her profile picture depicted her as a 10-year-old girl. She described how May messaged her, asking her age, despite the clear indication from her profile that she was young. The mother expressed her outrage, emphasizing that her daughter, who does not wear makeup and looks her age, was targeted by a man who knew she was only 11.

May’s actions included sending indecent images of himself and lewd messages to what he believed was a 15-year-old girl named ‘Jamie Russell.’ He is scheduled for sentencing on June 8 for these offenses. The girl’s mother voiced her frustration, fearing that May might receive only a minimal punishment, but she hoped that justice would be served.

In a warning to other parents, the mother urged vigilance, highlighting the dangers lurking on social media platforms like Facebook. She advised parents to monitor their children’s online activity, know their passwords, and be aware of who they are communicating with, despite the platform’s age restrictions. Her message underscores the importance of safeguarding children from online predators and the need for continued awareness and vigilance in the digital age.