MALCOLM RAY'S REIGN OF TERROR IN DUNBAR AND EYEMOUTH: SEX OFFENDER FACES COMMUNITY OUTRAGE

In a disturbing turn of events, Malcolm Ray, a convicted sex offender with a history of heinous crimes in Dunbar and Eyemouth, has recently returned to live in Dunbar, sparking outrage among local residents.

Ray, now 37 years old, was previously incarcerated for 18 months after being convicted in March for abusing two young girls during the 1980s and 1990s. His crimes, which took place in Prestonpans and his hometown of Eyemouth, involved lewd, indecent, and libidinous acts committed against the victims before they reached the age of 18.

One of the victims suffered from severe depression as a result of the abuse, while the other expressed fears that she might never be able to have children. Both women chose to waive their right to anonymity just three months after Ray’s sentencing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, motivated by a desire to help other potential victims and to raise awareness about such crimes.

Despite his incarceration, Ray’s release has reignited community tensions. Up to 200 residents in Dunbar have united in opposition to plans for him to move into a house on Lammermuir Crescent, located just a few yards from Dunbar Primary School. The proposed residence was initially intended to be Ray’s new home, as he planned to stay at his wife’s brother’s house.

However, a vigorous campaign against his relocation gained momentum through online petitions, protests, and community meetings. The collective opposition was so strong that the family reconsidered their plans, effectively blocking Ray’s move and preventing him from residing near a school where children’s safety is paramount.

In addition to his Dunbar-related crimes, Ray’s criminal history includes a 2002 conviction for attacking a teenage girl. At that time, Ray, then 30, was already on the sex offenders’ register due to an earlier incident at a funfair in Huntingdonshire, England, where he had touched a girl’s bottom.

His latest conviction involved the indecent assault of a 17-year-old girl outside a disco in Eyemouth. The incident occurred in the early hours after the girl left the venue to get some fresh air. Ray, who had been drinking heavily that night—reportedly consuming eight or nine pints of lager and four rums—approached the girl in an alley near the Home Arms Hotel.

He was accused of pulling down her trousers and touching her inappropriately. Ray admitted to the charges, which were reduced from a more serious allegation of rape, and pleaded guilty in Edinburgh’s High Court.

Judge Lady Smith sentenced him to one year in prison, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions. During the trial, an agent for Ray claimed that he genuinely believed the girl was interested in him, a notion the court dismissed as a drunken misjudgment.

Ray’s criminal record also includes a 2000 fine for indecent assault at a fairground where he was working at the time, after grabbing a girl who was talking to friends.

Now, with his recent return to Dunbar, the community remains vigilant and determined to prevent him from residing near vulnerable populations, especially children. The community’s strong opposition underscores the ongoing concern about the safety and well-being of local residents in the face of his past offenses.