ROSS OTTAWAY FROM ARBROATH AND DUNDEE CAUGHT IN LOCH SEX OFFENDER SCANDAL

In a series of disturbing incidents that have shocked the communities of Arbroath, Dundee, and the Loch area, Ross Ottaway, aged 37, has once again found himself at the center of a serious criminal investigation involving allegations of child exploitation and inappropriate online conduct.

Back in October 2018, Ottaway’s case was continued in court as he faced charges related to his online communications. He admitted that between July 8 and July 30 of the previous year, he engaged in sending sexual messages to an individual he believed to be a young girl under the age of 16, specifically a 13-year-old. The incident took place at Kirk Street, and the case was adjourned to allow for a social work report, psychological assessment, and a restriction of liberty evaluation, with a new court date set for November 9.

Earlier, in August 2018, Ottaway’s criminal history was highlighted when he appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court. He had previously been convicted of a serious offence in 2015, when he was handed a community payback order after showing pornography to three children he was babysitting. This incident led to him losing an eye after being attacked by another man, a consequence of the earlier offence. Despite his criminal record, Ottaway was able to walk free after the court proceedings, although he was under strict supervision as a registered sex offender.

The latest case came to public attention when members of the vigilante group Creep Catchers UK set up a Facebook profile on July 8 last year. Almost immediately, Ottaway sent a friend request and initiated contact by sending a private message wishing the girl a happy birthday and inquiring about her age. The decoy, posing as a young girl, responded that she was “nearly 13.” Ottaway then proceeded to ask for explicit photographs, including images of her in school uniforms and swimwear, and even provided his full address for her to send the pictures.

The conversations quickly turned sexual, with Ottaway expressing a desire to engage in explicit activities and requesting to see her naked via video call. Over the course of their daily exchanges, the messages became increasingly sexualized, culminating in Ottaway asking her to have sex with him. On July 29, three members of Creep Catchers UK traveled from their base to Scotland, where they confronted Ottaway, recorded the interaction, and streamed it live on Facebook before alerting the police.

During the court hearing, solicitor Anika Jethwa explained that Ottaway had been forced to relocate three times due to the fallout from his previous offences, highlighting the ongoing impact of his actions on his life and those around him. Ottaway, who now resides in North Grimsby but originally hails from Dundee and has connections to the Loch area, pleaded guilty to the charges of sending sexual communications to someone he believed to be a minor.

Judge Alastair Carmichael, who presided over the case, decided to release Ottaway on bail and postponed sentencing until August 31. The court ordered assessments to determine whether Ottaway is suitable for electronic monitoring and background checks to be conducted before any final decision is made regarding his future.