CONNOR MACKAY FROM RATTRAY CAUGHT IN CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION SCANDAL IN PERTH

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Connor Mackay, a 30-year-old resident of Rattray near Blairgowrie, has been exposed for engaging in highly inappropriate and illegal online communications with individuals he believed to be underage girls. The sequence of events leading to his arrest and subsequent charges reveals a pattern of predatory behavior that was ultimately thwarted by vigilant paedophile hunting groups operating in the area.

According to court reports, Mackay initiated contact with what he thought were young girls through social media platforms, specifically Facebook and WhatsApp. On September 20, 2023, he reached out to a decoy account operated by one of the vigilante groups, claiming to be a 12-year-old girl. The interactions quickly escalated, with Mackay asking invasive questions about puberty and sending explicit images, including a photograph of his own genitals. He also requested the decoy to take a mirror selfie of her genitals, further demonstrating his disturbing intentions.

By December 2, 2023, Mackay continued his online pursuit, this time engaging with a second decoy account set up by the same group. During this exchange, he again claimed to be 28 years old and asked the decoy about her physical development, including whether she had big or small hands. He then made lewd suggestions and sent a graphic image of a penis. The conversation also involved him asking about her body and sending images of female genitalia, indicating a clear pattern of grooming behavior.

In January 2024, Mackay shifted his focus to a third decoy account operated by a different vigilante group, The Online Child Protection Team. The group conducted a sting operation, which successfully captured Mackay making similar inappropriate and sexualized comments to what he believed was a child. The group then reported his activities to the police, prompting a raid on his residence.

During the police search of Mackay’s home on Douglas Davidson Drive, officers recovered a MacBook and three USB drives. The devices contained a significant amount of illegal material, including child abuse images and extreme pornography involving animals. These findings confirmed the severity of his offending and added to the charges he faced.

At Perth Sheriff Court, fiscal depute Stewart Duncan outlined the details of Mackay’s actions. He stated that Mackay had engaged in sexually explicit conversations with three different decoy profiles between September 2023 and January 2024. Mackay admitted to attempting to communicate indecently with two other individuals he believed to be children during the same period. He also pleaded guilty to possessing and creating indecent images of children, as well as possessing bestiality images.

His plea was entered with the court, and a sentencing date was deferred pending further reports. In the meantime, Mackay has been placed on the sex offenders register, marking a significant step in the legal process against him. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and community groups to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable minors from predators like Mackay, whose actions have now been brought to justice.