RONALD YOUNG FROM MONTROSE CAUGHT IN SHOCKING CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN DUNDEE AND NEWCASTLE

In March 2022, Ronald Young, a 68-year-old resident of Montrose, faced serious legal repercussions after being linked to multiple offences involving the exploitation of children and breaches of court orders designed to prevent such crimes.

Young, a former bus driver from Dundee, had a long history of criminal activity related to child sexual offences. His previous convictions include sending explicit messages to minors, attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes, and possessing indecent images of children. His criminal record is extensive, with incidents spanning several years and involving various forms of online and offline misconduct.

In the latest incident, Young was found to have been sending vile and inappropriate messages to children via secret mobile phones kept at his home in Toll Crescent, Forfar. Court proceedings revealed that he used two separate devices to communicate with minors on chatrooms, despite being under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that explicitly restricted his access to internet-enabled devices and contact with anyone under 16 without prior approval. The order was issued following his 2017 conviction at Newcastle Crown Court, where he was sentenced to 27 months in prison for traveling 200 miles from Dundee to Tyneside to meet a girl he believed to be 13 years old.

On the day of his latest court appearance at Dundee Sheriff Court, Young admitted to breaching his SOPO. Sheriff Gregor Murray highlighted that this was his fourth breach, emphasizing the seriousness of his repeated violations. The court was told that Young kept two phones hidden at his residence in Forfar and used them to send disturbing messages to children on various chat platforms. The breach was particularly concerning given his previous convictions and the restrictions placed upon him.

Further investigations uncovered that Young had purchased a new mobile phone with internet access in July 2020, despite his restrictions. Although initial checks by police found no illegal activity on the device, Young later claimed he had lost his phone and replaced it with a new SIM card in an old Nokia mobile. Police conducted an unannounced search on March 10, during which Young appeared nervous and denied possessing any internet-enabled devices. However, suspicions grew when officers learned he had been searching for a lost phone and was providing detailed explanations about its disappearance.

Subsequent police action revealed that the phone Young claimed to have lost was still active and ringing. A warrant was executed at his home, where he was found alone. Under pressure, Young handed over the phone he had previously claimed was lost, citing embarrassment over losing money on Bitcoin investments. During the search, officers also recovered a second mobile device, which was confirmed to have been used to access chatrooms frequented by children. Evidence showed that Young had been engaging in conversations on platforms such as “Kids Chat” and “Teen Chat,” some of which involved sexually explicit content.

Young’s actions constituted a clear breach of his SOPO, which prohibits him from possessing internet-capable devices and contacting minors without approval. His online activities between March 10 and April 17, 2021, included attempting to contact children and engaging in sexually explicit exchanges. He was subsequently remanded in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on April 1.

In a separate but related series of incidents, Young was caught twice within five months by online vigilante groups, notably Dark Justice and other paedophile hunter organizations. In January 2017, he was jailed for 10 months after police uncovered disturbing Skype chats on his laptop, which included conversations with a person pretending to be a 13-year-old girl. These chats involved references to sexual acts and even explicit content involving his pet dog. The police also found that Young had traveled from Dundee to Newcastle to meet a girl he believed to be 13, further demonstrating his predatory behavior.

His previous convictions include possessing indecent images of children in 2013, for which he received a community order, and attempting to meet an underage girl at Waterloo station in London in 2014, which resulted in a suspended jail sentence. Despite these convictions, Young continued to engage in illegal online activities, including seeking out chatrooms with names like “Kids Chat” and “Teen Chat,” where he exchanged sexually explicit messages with what he believed to be minors.

In June 2016, police uncovered conversations on his laptops indicating he believed he was speaking to a 12-year-old girl, discussing her clothing and her genitals with someone he thought was her mother’s boyfriend. These interactions, believed to be with a vigilante posing as a child, demonstrated his ongoing interest in children and his inability to stay away from such illicit activities. He was convicted of breaching a sexual offences prevention order and was sentenced to an additional 10 months in prison, with Sheriff Alastair Brown emphasizing that his interest in children appeared to be longstanding.

Throughout these incidents, Young has shown a pattern of deception, online grooming, and breaching court orders designed to protect children. His repeated breaches and continued online predatory behavior highlight the ongoing risks he poses to minors. The courts have consistently responded with custodial sentences, but his persistent violations underscore the need for vigilant monitoring and strict enforcement of restrictions to prevent further harm.

Young’s case remains a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with a history of child sexual offences who continue to seek out minors online despite legal restrictions and interventions. The legal proceedings continue, with sentencing scheduled for early April, as authorities seek to ensure that justice is served and public safety is maintained.