ALASDAIR MCCULLOCH FROM FRASERBURGH SENTENCED IN EDINBURGH FOR REPEATED CHILD SEX OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community and the wider public, Alasdair McCulloch, a former football coach from Fraserburgh, has been sentenced to an additional four years in prison following the emergence of new victims and further evidence of his predatory behavior. The recent sentencing took place at the High Court in Edinburgh, where the court heard detailed accounts of McCulloch’s repeated offenses against young boys over a span of more than a decade.

McCulloch, aged 36 at the time of sentencing, had previously been convicted in 2018 for five indecency offenses committed over an eight-year period from 1998 to 2006. During that earlier trial, he admitted to targeting five boys, some of whom he lured into wooded areas under the guise of playing games like truth or dare, only to subject them to sexual abuse. The court was informed that two of these victims were enticed into secluded woodland settings where they were exploited.

The latest allegations, which surfaced during the recent proceedings, involved offenses committed between November 2001 and May 2002, as well as between April 2005 and April 2008. These new incidents added to the pattern of offending that the court described as a clear and disturbing trend spanning over ten years. The judge, Lord Boyd of Duncansby, emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “Taken together your offences demonstrate a pattern of offending against boys over a period of 10 years.”

During the hearing, Lord Boyd ordered that McCulloch serve a four-year sentence for the two crimes of indecency and indecent assault he admitted earlier this year in May. Additionally, he mandated that McCulloch remain under supervision for a further two years following his release. The judge acknowledged the difficult background from which McCulloch came, noting that as a child, he had suffered neglect, domestic violence, and substance abuse, which may have contributed to his offending behavior.

Despite these circumstances, Lord Boyd expressed hope that McCulloch would benefit from participation in the “Moving Forward: Making Changes” sex offender treatment program. Unfortunately, he was informed that McCulloch was currently 105th on the waiting list, a situation exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic, which has delayed access to such programs. The court was told that one of the victims had initially contacted police as early as 2011, but at that time, there was insufficient evidence to proceed with charges. Another victim had also spoken to authorities earlier but was unable to report the abuse due to feelings of embarrassment. One of the victims has since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, highlighting the lasting impact of McCulloch’s actions.

McCulloch, who previously worked as a production engineer, watched the proceedings via a TV link from prison. As part of his sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the risk he poses to the community.

In a related case from June 2020, McCulloch’s history of abuse was further detailed. The court revealed that he had carried out offenses between 1998 and 2006, targeting young boys he knew through his coaching activities. The judge at that time, Lord Arthurson, described the offenses as highly serious, given the nature, duration, and the vulnerability of the victims, many of whom were of primary school age. McCulloch was sentenced to four and a half years in prison and was also placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Earlier in 2018, McCulloch had pleaded guilty to multiple charges of lewd and libidinous practices involving children. During that hearing, a victim, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted how the abuse was widely known among classmates and even the entire school. The victim expressed a desire for McCulloch to receive at least ten years in prison, emphasizing the profound and lasting damage caused.

The court heard that McCulloch had used his position as a coach to invite boys to discuss football tactics, only to exploit their trust for sexual abuse. It was estimated that he had engaged in such behavior approximately 30 times, including leading two children into woodland areas to commit acts of abuse. The abuse was often carried out without the victims fully understanding what was happening at the time, which compounded the trauma.

Throughout the proceedings, McCulloch’s address was listed as Buchan Road, Fraserburgh. He was remanded in custody until his sentencing scheduled for the following month, with the court emphasizing the serious nature of his crimes and the need for ongoing supervision and treatment to prevent further harm.