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MARK ARMSTRONG FROM SHOTTS AND WISHAW JAILED FOR ONLINE PREDATOR OFFENSES IN LANARKSHIRE
In a series of disturbing incidents that have shocked the communities of Shotts and Wishaw in Lanarkshire, Mark Armstrong, aged 49, has been sentenced to prison for his repeated attempts to engage with minors online in a highly predatory manner.Armstrong’s criminal activities came to light after he initiated contact with what he believed were underage girls through social media platforms, specifically Facebook. Unbeknownst to him, these interactions were part of an undercover operation conducted by vigilant online groups aiming to catch predators. The decoys involved in these sting operations posed as young girls aged 13 and 14, and Armstrong’s messages quickly revealed his disturbing intentions.
He was first identified when he sent explicit messages to a decoy posing as a 14-year-old girl, claiming he was comfortable with her age and asking her to meet him at Coatbridge rail station. He also sent photographs of himself wearing a Rangers football top, which he used as a signature feature in his online profiles. His communication was not limited to one account; he engaged with multiple decoys, including a girl working with Shadow Hunters, a known vigilante group dedicated to exposing online predators.
During these exchanges, Armstrong repeatedly asked the decoys to send him photographs, including a request for a pair of her underwear, and discussed plans to meet in secret, instructing them not to tell anyone. His messages also included offers to let them leave their homes and move in with him, further illustrating his predatory intent. The police later found two concealed mobile phones and a sheet of paper with the names of girls at his residence, confirming his ongoing attempts to contact minors.
His actions did not go unnoticed. In February of the same year, Armstrong was confronted in the street in Coatbridge after he had been communicating with the decoys. He was filmed attempting to escape from the vigilantes, even trying to jump into a passing vehicle in a desperate bid to flee the scene. This incident led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.
At Airdrie Sheriff Court, Armstrong pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including three counts of communicating indecently with a child and breaching bail conditions. The prosecution highlighted that he had been wearing the same Rangers top during each of his online interactions, which served as a distinctive identifier. The court was told that he had sent explicit messages to three different fake accounts, all created by decoys, and had shown a pattern of predatory behavior.
Depute Fiscal Agnes Meek detailed how Armstrong’s online activity involved asking the decoys to share personal photographs, including requests for underwear, and discussing plans to meet in person. She explained that police investigations revealed he had been traveling around Britain, attempting to evade detection. When officers searched his residence, they discovered two hidden mobile phones and an A4 sheet with the names of girls, further evidence of his ongoing predatory pursuits.
In light of the evidence, Sheriff Frank Pieri sentenced Armstrong to two years in prison, emphasizing the seriousness of his offenses. He also ordered that Armstrong be placed on the sex offenders register for ten years and noted that an extended custodial sentence was necessary to protect the public from further harm.
Earlier in December 2019, Armstrong had already been sentenced to 12 months in jail for similar offenses involving sending sexual messages to a 12-year-old girl while on bail for other charges. His prior conviction was based on his attempt to contact a minor while unaware that the individual was an undercover operative. The court heard that he had bombarded the decoy with explicit messages, unaware that he was being monitored.
In a separate incident earlier that year, Armstrong was sentenced to two years at Airdrie Sheriff Court after he sent messages to two women, pretending they were minors aged 13 and 14. He had also sent photographs of himself wearing a Rangers top and asked the women to meet him, further demonstrating his pattern of predatory online behavior.
Throughout these cases, Armstrong’s actions have been characterized by the courts as extremely serious, with judges emphasizing the importance of public protection. His repeated offenses, despite previous convictions and bail conditions, underscored the need for a custodial sentence to prevent further harm to potential victims in Lanarkshire and beyond.