MALCOLM MCRAE'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN MIDDLESBROUGH AND SPENNYMOOR: FACEBOOK DECEPTION AND CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In a series of disturbing incidents spanning several years, Malcolm McRae, a man with a troubling criminal history, has been found guilty of multiple serious offences involving child exploitation and online deception in Middlesbrough and Spennymoor.

In November 2015, McRae, aged 47 at the time, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being convicted of possessing and distributing indecent images of children in 2013. The court heard that McRae had previously served time for similar offences, including grooming a young boy in Scotland in 1989, which resulted in a three-year jail sentence. Despite his prior conviction, McRae continued to breach legal restrictions designed to protect the public from sex offenders.

The court was informed that after his release from prison, McRae adopted false identities on Facebook, using the alias 'Matthew' along with other fictitious surnames. These aliases were used to contact individuals he was legally prohibited from engaging with, including members of a family he was not supposed to have any contact with. In August of the same year, he sent Facebook friend requests to two members of this family, an act that directly contravened the conditions of his sex offender notification requirements, which mandated him to register any online identities with the police.

Prosecutor Rachel Masters revealed that McRae had set up a second Facebook account under yet another pseudonym. Police investigations uncovered that he had also purchased a mobile phone, which he deliberately concealed from authorities by disposing of it in a river, throwing away evidence that could have been used to monitor his online activities. The police found a receipt for this phone at his home on Portman Street, Gresham, Middlesbrough, where officers also discovered that McRae had used a third fake name to hide his tracks.

Further breaches of the sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) were identified when police found that McRae had deleted internet browsing histories and failed to make devices available for inspection, as required by the order. These actions were considered serious violations of the restrictions imposed on him, which aimed to prevent further offending and ensure public safety. McRae admitted to four breaches of the order, acknowledging that he had acted deceitfully and in violation of the legal restrictions.

During the court proceedings, Judge Howard Crowson addressed McRae directly, highlighting the severity of his criminal record, which included predatory offences against children and grooming activities. The judge emphasized that McRae’s actions demonstrated a clear pattern of attempting to evade detection and continue harmful behaviour. Despite McRae’s claims that his actions were motivated by sentimental reasons and that he had been a victim of past abuse himself, the judge made it clear that such explanations did not mitigate the seriousness of his breaches.

Judge Crowson sentenced McRae to an additional year in prison for these violations, underscoring the court’s concern over his ongoing risk to children. The judge stated that the purpose of the legal restrictions was to manage and reduce the risk he posed, and that his breaches indicated a failure to do so. The court’s decision reflected a firm stance on protecting vulnerable individuals from individuals with a history of sexual offences.

In a separate case in October 2013, McRae, then aged 45, was convicted in Spennymoor of engaging in online activities that involved a young girl. He had contacted her through an internet chat room, urging her to send explicit images of herself. He then directed her to other file-sharing sites, where she received numerous similar requests from adult men interested in her. Police investigations revealed that McRae’s computer contained over 1,500 indecent images of children, some of which he had shared with others.

McRae was candid during police interviews, admitting to possessing the images and sharing them with approximately 100 other individuals. He expressed that he was aroused by such images and had engaged in sexualized conversations with minors he believed to be over 18, although he also admitted to having fantasies involving children aged ten to sixteen. His previous conviction for a sexual offence involving a 10-year-old boy in Scotland in 1989 was also brought to light during the proceedings.

Scott Smith, representing McRae, argued that his client was cooperative and honest about his sexual attractions, acknowledging that his behaviour was unacceptable. Despite this, the court found the case to be serious enough to warrant significant punishment. McRae pleaded guilty to 14 counts of making indecent images of children, possession of such images, and distribution of the material.

Recorder Ian Atherton sentenced McRae to two and a half years in prison, emphasizing that his previous offence, although committed 24 years earlier, aggravated the current case. The court also ordered the forfeiture of his computer equipment and mandated that McRae register as a sex offender for an indefinite period. Additionally, he was placed under a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO), which restricts his internet use and contact with anyone under the age of 16, aiming to prevent further offending and protect potential victims.