MARK FINDLATER'S HORRIFIC ANIMAL ABUSE IN FORFAR: SHOCKING CONVICTION AND JAIL SENTENCE

Mark Findlater, a resident of Mains of Coul Cottages in Forfar, has been convicted of heinous crimes involving the possession of extreme material depicting sexual acts between humans and animals. The case, which has garnered significant attention, reveals a disturbing pattern of behavior that culminated in a severe legal response.

In 2016, Findlater was found guilty of possessing a large collection of illicit images and videos that showed sexual acts involving adults and various animals, including dogs, cows, pigs, and horses. The evidence was uncovered after colleagues at an animal sanctuary, where Findlater was employed, discovered a suspicious link to a bestiality website on a computer he used regularly. This discovery prompted a police investigation, leading to a search warrant executed at his residence.

During the search of Findlater’s home, authorities recovered over 1,000 images and approximately 400 videos depicting the disturbing acts. The severity of the material and the nature of the offenses prompted the court to impose a community payback order and a ban on him keeping animals for a period of three years. Findlater admitted to the charges, which related to the possession of the material between March 2011 and November 2013. Despite the court’s restrictions, Findlater repeatedly violated the ban, including continuing to keep animals in defiance of the court’s orders.

His breaches of the court’s directives did not go unnoticed. A sheriff warned him that his persistent violations were testing the patience of the judiciary. Findlater’s legal representative acknowledged her client’s failure to comply, stating that his repeated breaches left little choice but to consider imprisonment. She expressed concern about his vulnerability in a custodial setting, noting that Findlater was genuinely frightened of incarceration and requested the court to consider a restriction of liberty order, such as curfews at his mother’s home.

However, the sheriff, Murray, made it clear that the gravity of the offenses warranted a more severe response. Reflecting on the initial sentencing, Sheriff Murray emphasized the horrific nature of the crimes, which involved a vast collection of illegal material. He stated that the options were limited to either a relatively brief custodial sentence or a lengthy community order. Given the circumstances, the sheriff concluded that a restriction of liberty order was insufficient to address the severity of the crimes and that custody was the only appropriate course of action.

Consequently, Findlater was sentenced to seven months in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years, marking a significant legal consequence for his actions. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and the judiciary to combat animal abuse and the possession of extreme material, sending a clear message about the seriousness with which such offenses are treated in Forfar and beyond.