INVERNESS SEX ATTACKER JAILED FOR THREE YEARS AFTER TARGETING YOUNG GIRLS IN PARKS
A dangerous serial sex offender who caused "incalculable psychological damage" to young girls has been sentenced to three years in prison.Warren Maclean, aged 47, was convicted of targeting multiple victims with disturbing behavior.
One of his victims, just eight years old, was grabbed at a play area behind St Valery Avenue and pulled to the ground.
She managed to escape, but tragically, just a week later, on April 11, 2023, Maclean struck again.
He approached a 10-year-old girl in a nearby park at Dalneigh, asking her if she wanted to see his penis.
He then exposed himself by pulling down his trousers and underwear.
Inverness Sheriff Court heard that the trauma inflicted on this girl was so severe that she and her family had to move away from the area.
Despite requests, Police Scotland declined to release a mugshot of Maclean for public safety reasons.
In further incidents, on April 18, 2023, Maclean cycled past two girls aged 11 and 12 waiting at a bus stop on Barn Church Road, then again tried to ask them if they wanted to see his penis and began to unbutton his trousers.
The girls ran away and returned with an adult, subsequently identifying Maclean to police.
He was arrested and admitted to charges of sexual assault and obtaining sexual gratification.
During sentencing, impact statements from victims and their families were considered.
Maclean, previously residing in Inverness, was represented by solicitor Shahid Latif, who acknowledged that jail time was unavoidable but requested a sentence sufficient for rehabilitation.
The sheriff sentenced him to three years, backdated to April 13, 2023, and placed him on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also imposed for six years, restricting his contact with minors, banning him from parks, schools, or leisure centers, and controlling his internet use.
The judge highlighted the lasting psychological damage to the victims, especially the girl who feared kidnapping and suffered significant trauma, and emphasized that Maclean's conduct was beyond societal acceptance.
