JONATHAN ANNAL'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN ABERDEEN AND ALNESS REVEALED

In December 2013, a disturbing case unfolded involving Jonathan Annal, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses linked to the Aberdeen and Alness areas. Annal, aged 29 at the time, was found guilty of creating a Facebook profile under a false name, a violation that led to his imprisonment. His address was recorded as Flat E, 36 Stafford Street, Aberdeen, and he was already on the sex offenders’ register, having previously served a 10-month sentence in 2008 for similar misconduct.

His past offenses involved lewd, indecent, and libidinous conduct directed towards young girls aged between 12 and 16. These acts included engaging in sexually explicit conversations over the internet, which is a serious breach of both legal and moral boundaries. The authorities highlighted his pattern of behavior, emphasizing the danger he posed to minors and the ongoing risk of re-offending.

Last month, during a hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Annal admitted to failing to comply with his notification requirements between September 17 and November 20 of that year. Specifically, he failed to inform police about his Facebook profile, which he had operated under a fictitious name. This breach of the conditions of his sex offender registration resulted in an additional six months of imprisonment.

Earlier, in November 2008, Annal’s criminal activities had already garnered significant attention. At that time, he was sentenced to 10 months in jail after a court in Tain heard about his online predatory behavior. The court was told that Annal, then 24 and residing in Alness, had engaged in online chats with four girls from Easter Ross, all aged between 12 and 16, during the period from May 1, 2006, to December 31, 2006.

During these interactions, Annal not only exchanged sexually explicit messages but also performed indecent acts while the girls watched via webcam. He repeatedly used lewd language and engaged in behaviors that were both morally reprehensible and legally punishable. Court records indicated that he asked the girls to remove their clothing and attempted to persuade them to perform indecent acts on camera for his viewing pleasure.

The case was brought to light when one of the girls’ sisters discovered saved conversations between Annal and her sibling on their family computer. This evidence revealed the extent of Annal’s online misconduct and led to his arrest and subsequent conviction.

During the court proceedings, Annal’s defense solicitor, Roderick Urquhart, acknowledged the seriousness of the charges. He pointed out that Annal was in a relationship with a fiancée and had a child, and he referenced a background report indicating that Annal was at a very high risk of re-offending. The lawyer also noted that Annal had made troubling comments suggesting that his victims bore some responsibility for what had happened, a statement that underscored the complexity of his psychological profile.

Urquhart emphasized that Annal accepted full responsibility for his actions, despite the long duration of his offending and the fact that the girls continued to communicate with him over time. He also mentioned that some of the girls appeared to be laughing at Annal rather than with him, but stressed that the court’s primary duty was to protect children from harm.

Sheriff David Sutherland, presiding over the case, expressed his concern about the severity of the offenses. He remarked that Annal was fortunate not to be facing indictment, describing the case as one of the most serious of its kind he had encountered in summary procedure. The sheriff criticized Annal for not recognizing the impact of his actions on his victims, emphasizing that their well-being should be the court’s foremost concern.

Ultimately, Sheriff Sutherland sentenced Annal to a custodial term, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the need for public protection. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in safeguarding vulnerable minors in Aberdeen, Alness, and beyond.