ELGIN FISHMONGER SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND MOLESTING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL
A Moray businessman who exploited his position to groom a young girl has been sentenced to prison.William Mackie, who was previously convicted, was jailed for his crimes at Inverness Sheriff Court.He was found guilty of abusing a 13-year-old girl at the now-closed Lossie Fish Shop on Culbard Street, Elgin, and also sexually assaulted a vulnerable young woman.
The assaults occurred in 2009/10 and 2016.During the trial, the first victim relayed how Mackie, then 13, would visit his shop with friends.
She stated that he would pass her folded banknotes, even though she never asked for money.
She recounted an incident where Mackie told her, "if I wanted money, I had to let him kiss my p****." She detailed how he shut the shop door, laid a towel on the floor, and performed a sex act on her, which she said lasted longer than it felt.
She was told not to tell anyone afterward, with Mackie saying, "That I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone." She did not report it immediately, fearing disbelief and shame, but came forward in 2022 after supporting a family member.The second victim, described as vulnerable, believed she was going for a cleaning job but was taken into the shop’s office by Mackie, who then sexually assaulted her.
She described how Mackie, then 66, targeted her in between serving customers, pulling her jumper to look at her breasts, and unbuttoning her jeans to perform a sex act on her.
She felt scared during the assault.
Mackie then took her to the back of the shop, where he again performed a sex act, leaving her feeling "horrible." She was paid £60 afterward and reported the incident to police days later.
Mackie denied being alone with the first victim but admitted to kissing and touching the second, claiming he thought she was coming onto him and that he felt regret afterward.After a trial lasting less than two hours, Mackie was convicted of both sexual assault charges.
The court heard that he used his role as a community businessman to groom and exploit his victims.
The sheriff sentenced him to 20 months in prison, placed him on the sex offenders register for 10 years, and issued a non-harassment order to contact or approach victims.Following the sentencing, one of the victims expressed her relief, stating, "Justice has finally been served," and described the impact on her mental health and future relationships.
She emphasized her disapproval of Mackie’s claims about her trying to come on to him, asserting she would never do so.
She wished for a longer sentence but was satisfied that justice was achieved.
