DAVID MACFARLANE FROM PRESTWICK ESCAPES JAIL AFTER GROOMING LARGS SCHOOLGIRL

In November 2019, a disturbing case unfolded involving a young girl from Largs who was targeted and groomed through social media. The victim, only 13 years old at the time, was contacted by David MacFarlane, a 20-year-old man from Prestwick, via Snapchat. The offender initiated communication with the girl and arranged to meet her at Fairlie Train Station on November 17 of that year.

MacFarlane, who was 19 at the time of the incident, lured the young girl into the woods after their meeting at the station. There, he engaged in sexual activity with her, despite her being underage. The case came to light when the girl’s mother discovered the messages and learned of the meeting. MacFarlane admitted to the offence during court proceedings but was spared a custodial sentence.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, he was sentenced to a one-year supervision order and was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register. The decision sparked outrage and heartbreak for the girl’s mother, who expressed her deep disappointment with the leniency shown to MacFarlane. She revealed that her daughter’s abuser claimed not to fully understand the gravity of his actions, citing autism as a mitigating factor. However, she strongly believed that MacFarlane was fully aware of her age before meeting her and accused him of mocking the justice process, stating he would be “laughing” at the punishment.

The mother voiced her frustration, saying, “I thought that his time on the Register would have been longer. I was expecting at least maybe five years. He knew her age. If he was a half decent person he would not have persisted, but this is a slap on the wrist. He will walk away laughing but I’m not amused at that or any of it, but there’s not a lot we can do now.” She further emphasized that MacFarlane traveled alone from Prestwick to meet her daughter, fully aware of his intentions.

Following the incident, MacFarlane contacted the girl via text two days after their meeting, stating he did not want any further contact. Despite this, the mother remains concerned about his potential danger to other young girls. She expressed her fears, saying, “My girl is safe now but he is free. He has got away with this so what would stop him doing it again? I definitely think he is a danger to young girls.” She also shared her feelings of shame and upset, describing how her daughter felt humiliated and naïve after being manipulated by MacFarlane. The mother added, “I just want her to have as normal a childhood as possible after this. She has a huge group of friends who continue to be a great support.”

During the court hearing, MacFarlane’s lawyer, Sandy Currie, explained that his client suffers from “a lack of consequential thinking.” Mr. Currie mentioned that MacFarlane’s family, who attended court to support him, believed he might be on the autistic spectrum. The lawyer argued that MacFarlane did not fully appreciate the seriousness of his crimes, which influenced the court’s decision to impose a supervision order rather than imprisonment.