JOHN CARROLL FROM ANSTRUTHER SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN FIFE

In February 2017, a man from Anstruther, Fife, was sentenced to prison for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl over a period of more than a year. The case drew significant attention due to the fact that the girl’s mother was aware of the relationship but did not intervene.

John Carroll, aged 21 at the time, initiated his inappropriate relationship with the young girl in 2014 after they connected through Facebook. Over the course of approximately 13 months, Carroll and the girl maintained a clandestine affair, which included meeting regularly and engaging in sexual activity. Carroll’s familiarity with the girl extended to taking the bus with her to her school and meeting her during lunch breaks, actions that demonstrated a troubling level of involvement.

Despite being aware of her age, Carroll appeared unconcerned about the legal and moral implications of his actions, according to court reports. The girl’s mother, who was aware of the relationship, observed her daughter becoming withdrawn during this period. However, after the relationship ended, the girl reportedly returned to her usual self, indicating the emotional toll the affair may have taken.

Carroll’s misconduct was brought to light when the girl, now 16, decided to report him to the police following their breakup. Prior to this, Carroll had been confronted by the girl’s uncle, who discovered them in bed together. The uncle warned Carroll that he would face imprisonment and be placed on the sex offenders’ register if he continued his relationship with the girl. Despite this warning, Carroll’s actions persisted until the girl chose to report him to authorities.

During the court proceedings at Dundee Sheriff Court, prosecutor Eilidh Robertson detailed Carroll’s repeated visits and meetings with the girl, emphasizing that he was fully aware of her age but showed no concern. She also noted that the girl’s family believed she was withdrawn during the relationship but seemed to recover after it ended.

In his defense, lawyer Kerr Sneddon argued that the girl’s mother and family were fully aware of the relationship, which he claimed gave Carroll some sense of justification. However, Sheriff Alastair Carmichael was clear in his judgment, stating that the law was designed to protect children under 16 from such exploitation. The sheriff emphasized that Carroll, as an adult, engaged in sexual activity with a minor over a period of more than a year, which warranted a custodial sentence.

As a result, John Carroll was sentenced to eight months in prison and was also placed on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years, marking a serious legal consequence for his actions in Anstruther, Fife.