OFFENDER THOMAS MCPHERSON OF AIRDRIE SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE AND VIOLENCE
In November 2008, Thomas McConnell, a 49-year-old from Wellside Avenue, Thrashbush, Airdrie, was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple acts of violence and sexual abuse involving children.McConnell was convicted of assaulting three young children over an 11-year period and sexually abusing a teenage girl.
The events spanned several years, with the earliest incidents occurring from August 14, 1995, to March 13, 2006.
He also admitted to sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl at a residence in Airdrie.
During the court hearing, Sheriff Petra Collins detailed how McConnell assaulted a girl multiple times, including beating her at home and at a flat within the Thrashbush Homeless Unit.
These assaults involved dragging and pulling her by the hair, repeatedly striking her with a belt, throwing objects like cups, shoes, jars, and forks at her, and slapping and kicking her on the head and body.
Another girl was also repeatedly attacked by McConnell between July 28, 1997, and March 13, 2006.
His physical abuse included striking her with a belt, throwing objects such as cups, glasses, and a fork, which struck her head and body, and on Christmas Eve, 2005, he knocked her unconscious with a tumbler.
Between January 6 and 29, 2006, when she was 16, the same girl was sexually abused by McConnell.
The court further heard that McConnell abused a boy from the age of seven until he turned 18, during the same period.
His violence towards the boy included hitting him with a belt and shoes, throwing forks that hit him in the head and body, and slapping and kicking him.
Social workers classified McConnell as a medium risk of re-offending.
Sheriff Collins emphasized the gravity of his actions, stating, “You have pled guilty to repeated attacks on these three children and to the sexual abuse of one of them.
You and you alone are responsible for finding yourself in the position you are in.
These offences are so grave that only custody is merited.” As a result, McConnell was sentenced to four years in prison and was also ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely.
