CHRISTOPHER SLOAN ARRESTED IN ARBROATH FOR BRUTAL ASSAULT AND CHILD ABUSE OFFENSES

In a recent and disturbing development, Christopher Sloan, a known offender from Arbroath, has been sentenced to prison following his involvement in a violent assault and theft targeting a teenage boy. Sloan, who has a long history of criminal activity related to child abuse material, was found to be part of a group that pursued a 16-year-old in a wooded area near Arbroath called The Dammy. The incident took place at a location close to McGregors Walk, where Sloan approached the young victim, pushed him to the ground, and then placed his hands around the boy’s neck, attempting to restrict his breathing. This aggressive act was followed by Sloan striking the teenager in the head and stealing his mobile phone, leaving the victim injured and distressed. The court proceedings, held at Forfar Sheriff Court, revealed that Sloan, who is currently awaiting sentencing at Dundee court for his fourth conviction involving child abuse files, was sentenced to four months in prison for this assault and theft.

During the hearing, solicitor Billy Rennie explained that Sloan’s actions involved multiple individuals, including the victim, and that Sloan regrettably took the mobile device after the assault. Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown emphasized that a custodial sentence was appropriate given the severity of Sloan’s actions. This case is part of a broader pattern of criminal behavior by Sloan, who admitted in March to possessing over 900 child abuse files on his phone. This admission came after police discovered the exploitative content following a breach of his online restrictions shortly after his release from prison. Sloan had been free for only ten days before being detained again, highlighting the ongoing legal issues he faces.

His previous incarceration was for a four-month sentence related to violations of internet restrictions, which had been imposed after he was caught with more than 14 hours of abusive material. Sloan’s criminal record includes multiple convictions for similar offenses, including sending messages on Snapchat while prohibited from deleting messages, which resulted in shorter sentences. His history underscores a pattern of repeated violations and ongoing predatory behavior.

Adding to his legal troubles, Sloan was found to have breached a strict court order by using Snapchat, a social media app that automatically deletes chat logs. This breach occurred just two weeks after the order was imposed by Forfar Sheriff Court. Sloan, who resides on Strathairlie Avenue in Arbroath, appeared from custody and admitted to using Snapchat to communicate with a person he was ordered not to contact. The court had previously placed Sloan on the sex offenders register after police uncovered 14 hours of depraved child abuse footage during a raid on his home in Arbroath in 2022. The police had intelligence indicating that Sloan uploaded Category A and Category B child abuse images using an email linked to his Facebook account.

During the recent hearing, fiscal depute Sam Craib stated that Sloan, while under court orders, engaged in a conversation via Snapchat with the named individual, with the chat lasting nearly half an hour. Sloan’s solicitor, Billy Rennie, argued that there was no malicious intent behind Sloan’s contact and that it was a misunderstanding. Rennie also highlighted that Sloan’s previous assessments indicated a capacity for naivety regarding his actions. Despite this, Sheriff Mark Thorley backdated Sloan’s sentence to September 16 and emphasized that there was no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence. The court also ordered the forfeiture of Sloan’s Samsung mobile phone, which was used to facilitate the breaches.

In 2022, Sloan pleaded guilty to possessing sick child abuse material, which included hundreds of images and hours of disturbing videos. Police had uncovered this material during a raid on his Arbroath residence, following intelligence that linked his Facebook email to the upload of Category A and B images. Sloan’s repeated violations and ongoing criminal behavior highlight the serious threat he poses, and his latest sentencing underscores the judicial system’s response to such heinous offenses.