PORT GLASGOW MAN JAILED FOR OVER TWO YEARS AFTER ABUSING YOUNG BOY

A man named Scott Boyd, aged 32, who lived on Muirdykes Avenue in Port Glasgow, was found guilty of subjecting a young boy to emotional and physical abuse over a period of two and a half years. The court heard that Boyd terrified and tormented the child between the ages of four and six. The victim's mother described Boyd as 'wonderful', highlighting the positive moments he shared with her son, such as cheering him at sports events and building Lego together. However, Boyd's misconduct included harsh disciplinary actions; notably, he slapped the boy so forcefully that he was left writhing in pain, with the court noting the slap was not merely discipline but 'harsh chastisement'. The mother stated that she did not consider the slap an assault but a form of discipline. Boyd also forced the boy to eat meals in his room while the family ate together and used derogatory names like 'nasty', 'baby', and 'stupid' towards the child. Boyd admitted to police that he slapped the boy on the bum when misbehaving, claiming he did so to instill respect through fear. He pleaded guilty to charges including intimidation, emotional abuse, putting the child in fear, and forceful slaps causing injury. The court, presided over by Sheriff Andrew McIntyre, sentenced Boyd to 18 months of social work supervision, recognizing that Boyd expressed remorse and wanted to change. The judge acknowledged the importance of support and noted Boyd's behavior, while severe, was not malicious but was 'over the line'. The mother’s detailed letter revealed her insight into the situation and her desire for Boyd to reform. Boyd was assessed as low risk for reoffending due to the nature of his conduct, which lacked malicious intent. The judge emphasized the distress caused to the child and the need for intervention to prevent future harm.