DAVID MACLEOD FROM DUNBEATH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER PREDATORY FACEBOOK MESSAGES TO YOUNG GIRLS IN WICK

In April 2014, a disturbing case unfolded at Wick Sheriff Court involving David James Macleod, a 21-year-old resident of Portormin Road, Dunbeath, who was accused of engaging in a calculated and predatory campaign to contact underage girls through social media. The court heard that Macleod had deliberately devised a strategy to access young girls’ Facebook pages, including those as young as ten, with little regard for the potential harm his actions could cause.

Between December 2012 and July 2013, Macleod admitted to sending a series of inappropriate messages and graphic images, which included explicit material such as images of male genitals. These messages and images were discovered after concerned parents of the recipients noticed suspicious activity on their children’s Facebook accounts. The investigation was triggered when one parent, checking her daughter’s messages, found evidence of inappropriate contact. On another occasion, a young girl asked her mother how to delete items from her Facebook page, prompting her mother to investigate further.

The court was informed that the girls involved had clearly indicated their ages in their responses online and were aware that Macleod was an older individual. Prosecutor David Barclay emphasized that one of the graphic images was particularly indecent and unwelcome, highlighting the disturbing nature of Macleod’s communications.

During the hearing, Macleod, who was present in court, explained that he had sent the messages at random out of boredom. However, the prosecution and the court recognized the seriousness of his actions. The senior fiscal depute pointed out that Macleod’s behavior was not impulsive but part of a calculated, predatory approach aimed at exploiting vulnerable young girls for his own gratification.

Defence solicitor Ken Ferguson acknowledged that Macleod had experienced a difficult childhood and suggested that he was someone with significant issues. The solicitor appealed for a non-custodial sentence, arguing that Macleod, a first-time offender, had ample free time and would benefit more from a supervised community program rather than imprisonment.

However, Sheriff Andrew Berry, after reviewing the background reports, emphasized the importance of protecting children and their families from such harmful behavior. The sheriff expressed concern that although prison was an option, there would be no follow-up supervision once Macleod was released, raising doubts about his likelihood of re-offending.

One report highlighted that Macleod had deliberately planned his approach to access underage girls, operating on a secretive, abusive, and predatory basis, without considering the potential harm inflicted on his victims. Sheriff Berry commented, “I could not have put it better myself.”

As a result, Macleod was sentenced to 225 hours of unpaid community work over three years. Additionally, he was prohibited from having contact with females under the age of 16 and was barred from accessing the internet unless under supervision. Furthermore, Macleod was ordered to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to prevent further harm.