DEREK MACKAY FROM BALLOCH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN ALEXANDRIA

In March 2013, Derek MacKay, a man from Balloch, was sentenced to a decade behind bars after being found guilty of sexually abusing two young girls aged just three and four. The heinous acts took place over a period of four years at a residence in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, where MacKay targeted the vulnerable children in a disturbing campaign of abuse.

During the trial held at the High Court in Glasgow, the two young victims bravely testified about their traumatic experiences, forcing them to relive the ordeals inflicted upon them by MacKay. The court heard that MacKay, now registered as a sex offender, was convicted on four counts of sexual assault, which included the rape of one girl and the attempted rape of the other. The severity of his crimes prompted Judge Rita Rae QC to issue a stern warning to MacKay, emphasizing the gravity of his actions and the ongoing risk he posed to children.

In her sentencing remarks, Judge Rae stated, "No words can properly describe the crimes you have committed against these two little girls. Children should not be objects to be used by an adult for his own sexual gratification. You have destroyed their innocence, and your refusal to accept responsibility means little can be done to help you change your ways. You will continue to present a risk to children."

Following his conviction, MacKay, who had been on bail, was remanded into custody and is expected to be monitored in the community for two years after his release. The abuse began in 2007 when MacKay started assaulting the older girl, who was only three years old at the time, at a property in Alexandria. During the trial, prosecutor Bruce Erroch questioned the young girl about her experiences, to which she responded, "Quite a lot of stuff," including MacKay's attempt to rape her.

MacKay's abuse extended to the other girl when she was only four years old. He was found guilty of raping her, despite her fear and reluctance to speak about what had happened. The prosecution highlighted that the girl had gained some knowledge of sexual matters from viewing explicit magazines and DVDs, but the court clarified that this did not diminish the severity of MacKay's crimes. Prosecutor Erroch emphasized that exposure to inappropriate material does not equate to consent or negate the sexual abuse inflicted by MacKay.

In February 2013, further details emerged about the case, with reports confirming MacKay's conviction for the sexual assault of the two young girls. The court deferred sentencing to allow for reports to be prepared and placed MacKay on the sex offenders register. Judge Rae warned MacKay that he faced a significant custodial sentence, underscoring the seriousness of his crimes and the impact on his victims.