JOHN MCCALLUM FROM EDINBURGH AND LOANHEAD SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE AND MURDER PLOT PROTECTION IN SCOTLAND

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Edinburgh and Loanhead, John McCallum, a man with a dark history of child abuse and criminal connections, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for heinous crimes against his young nieces. The case, which was heard at the High Court in Edinburgh, revealed a long history of abuse that spanned nearly a decade, beginning when the victims were just five years old.

McCallum, aged 53 and originally from Loanhead, was convicted of sexually abusing his twin nieces, Rachel Steadwood and Tracy Brown, between 1978 and 1987. The abuse took place at various locations, including a caravan at a travellers' site in Edinburgh and a residence in Loanhead, Midlothian, where he also resided. The court heard harrowing details of the assaults, which occurred when the girls were between five and thirteen years old. The victims, now aged 40, bravely testified about how McCallum molested them during visits to the sites and in his vehicle while he was working as a tarmac layer.

Despite the gravity of his crimes, McCallum refused to be placed in segregation within Saughton Prison, where he is currently held. Instead, his associates have reportedly paid a notorious criminal, Frank Doris, to act as his protector among the inmate population. Doris, who is serving a 13-year sentence for conspiracy to murder businessman Kevin Martin in a contract hit, has reportedly been paid to vouch for McCallum and to assert his innocence to other prisoners. Relatives of the victims expressed their awareness of these arrangements, stating that attempts had been made to buy protection from other inmates, but these efforts were rebuffed. They indicated that Doris's reputation in prison is well-known, and that McCallum’s decision to remain in the general population is driven by his refusal to admit guilt.

Sources close to the case revealed that McCallum’s associates had tried to recruit another hardened criminal for protection, but he refused, calling McCallum a “beast.” It was also noted that Doris, despite not being physically imposing, commands respect within the prison due to his violent history. The relatives expressed their lack of surprise at McCallum’s choice to avoid segregation, emphasizing that he shows no remorse for his actions and remains defiant about his innocence. One family member commented, “He doesn’t care less about the girls and what they went through. Before the trial, he would go on his knees to people, swearing that he was innocent and crying his eyes out.”

Frank Doris’s violent past further complicates the situation. In April 2010, Doris was jailed for conspiracy to murder, after being found guilty alongside property developer Martin Black. Doris was hired by Black to kill Kevin Martin, who was allegedly owed £100,000 from a failed business deal. During the trial, authorities presented a homemade gun among the weapons Doris had amassed in connection with the plot. Doris, who often signed his messages “Murder Inc,” had boasted of shooting seven men and was caught after threatening a former associate, Claire Lizanec, who had stolen a gun from him. Doris’s reputation for violence and intimidation is well-established, making his role as a protector in prison particularly concerning.

Judge Lord Boyd, presiding over McCallum’s sentencing, emphasized the seriousness of the crimes and the need for a substantial prison term. He also ordered McCallum to be registered as a sex offender indefinitely. McCallum, who has a large traveller family background, maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, claiming that his defense team did not adequately represent him and that the presence of female jurors influenced the verdict. As he was led away to serve his sentence, he repeatedly insisted, “I’m an innocent man. I’m an innocent man. I’m getting 10 years and I’m an innocent man.”

Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Gray commented on the case, condemning McCallum as a “predatory individual” who inflicted prolonged abuse on his victims during their formative years. He praised the bravery of Tracy Brown and Rachel Steadwood for coming forward and expressed hope that the sentence would encourage other victims to report similar crimes. The police reaffirmed their commitment to investigating sexual offenses regardless of when they occurred, emphasizing that justice can be pursued at any time.

In a related case from September 2013, McCallum was convicted of similar child rape charges, with the court hearing how the abuse was kept secret for years until a chance incident triggered the victims’ memories. The court was told that McCallum, who also served as president of a children’s boxing club, had molested the girls at various locations, including a caravan and a house in Loanhead. The victims recounted how McCallum raped one of them when she was just six years old, and the other between the ages of seven and eight. Despite denying the charges, McCallum was found guilty and remanded in custody pending sentencing, which was later scheduled for later in the month.

Following the verdict, the victims expressed their relief and determination to move forward with their lives. One stated, “He robbed me of a childhood and he’s robbed me of having proper relationships. I’ve been on medication, like antidepressants, for most of my life. There’s been drugs and bulimia and I’ve even tried to take my own life… that’s what he did to me.” The court heard how the abuse first came to light after one victim experienced flashbacks and sought medical help, eventually leading to McCallum’s arrest. His defense argued that he was a respected community member who had achieved success through hard work, despite his criminal acts.

As McCallum was taken into custody, he continued to proclaim his innocence, insisting, “I’m an innocent man. I’m an innocent man. I’m getting 10 years and I’m an innocent man.” The police and judicial authorities hope that the lengthy sentence will serve as a warning to others and bring some measure of closure to the victims and their families.