TROON YOUTH WORKER JAMES FORSYTH ADMITS TO DECADES OF CHILD ABUSE AND POSSESSING 124,000 INDECENT IMAGES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Troon, James Forsyth, a former youth worker with over 30 years of service at Troon Youth Centre, has admitted to a long history of abusing boys under his care. The allegations span over a decade, during which Forsyth engaged in grooming and inappropriate conduct with multiple young boys, some as young as 10 years old.

Authorities conducted a thorough search of Forsyth’s residence, uncovering a staggering collection of indecent images. On his hard drives and computers, police discovered approximately 124,000 photographs depicting children in various states of undress, many of which were downloaded over an eight-year period. The collection also included hundreds of films, predominantly featuring boys aged between six and 15. This evidence paints a disturbing picture of Forsyth’s activities and the extent of his misconduct.

James Forsyth, aged 66 and residing on Portland Terrace in Troon, pleaded guilty in Ayr Sheriff Court to possessing and creating indecent images of children. He also admitted to engaging in lewd, indecent, and libidinous acts towards four boys he had groomed during his tenure at the Troon Youth Centre. The court heard that Forsyth had used his position to manipulate and exploit vulnerable children, often bribing them with incentives such as extra points in a rewards system or encouraging them to swim naked with him during trips.

Details of Forsyth’s misconduct include incidents from the 1970s and 1980s. During a youth club trip to Lendalfoot in the 1970s, Forsyth was observed watching a boy in the shower and was described as being “openly aroused.” He also took photographs of two children posed naked on benches. In 1984, Forsyth targeted an 11-year-old boy, a member of Troon’s Youth Centre, during a trip to Arran. Forsyth promised the boy more points if he swam naked, which the boy did. The following year, Forsyth recorded a video of the boy naked in a sauna and showed him a video of himself dancing in the shower at Forsyth’s home.

Police acted on a search warrant issued on November 15 of the previous year, which allowed them to raid Forsyth’s flat. During questioning, Forsyth responded ambiguously when asked if he had any pictures of children on his computers, replying, “Maybe.” The investigation revealed a vast collection of illicit material, with images of young boys between the ages of six and 15. Forsyth’s actions and the evidence collected have raised serious concerns about safeguarding and the failure of oversight at the time.

While South Ayrshire Council states that it was never made aware of any complaints regarding Forsyth’s conduct with children during his employment, they have indicated that they are now reviewing their procedures to prevent similar incidents from going unnoticed in the future. The council has not yet confirmed whether it will conduct its own investigation into Forsyth’s conduct but has emphasized the importance of safeguarding measures.

At the hearing, Sheriff Scott Pattison deferred sentencing to allow for the preparation of background reports. Forsyth was also placed on the sex offenders register, marking a significant step in addressing the gravity of his crimes and ensuring public safety moving forward.