BRIAN MCCABE FROM JOHNSTONE CAUGHT BREAKING SEX OFFENDER RESTRICTIONS DURING SPANISH HOLIDAY

In December 2016, Brian McCabe, a 47-year-old man residing in Johnstone, found himself back in trouble with the law after attempting to evade restrictions placed upon him as a registered sex offender. McCabe, who had previously been convicted of possessing child abuse images, had been ordered to adhere to strict conditions, including not leaving the country without notifying authorities. Despite these legal obligations, he took a spontaneous holiday to Spain, specifically Alicante, without informing the police or obtaining the necessary travel notifications.

McCabe’s decision to travel was particularly brazen, as it marked the second time he had violated the terms of his court order. The first breach occurred when he was caught browsing illegal content online, despite being under an online ban. On this occasion, he claimed to the court that he needed a break following the death of his father, which he said was the reason for his trip. However, his actions did not go unnoticed by law enforcement officials.

According to prosecutor John Penman, border police intercepted McCabe as he attempted to re-enter Scotland at Glasgow Airport. The authorities confirmed that no travel notification had been received from McCabe, which was a breach of his legal obligations. Checks with Jet2.com, the airline he used, revealed that he had flown from Alicante back to Glasgow. The police’s investigation confirmed that McCabe had traveled to Spain without proper authorization, further violating the conditions of his registration as a sex offender.

McCabe’s criminal history includes a significant conviction from 2012, when police seized three laptops from his home on Hawthorn Avenue in Johnstone. The devices contained a cache of child sex abuse images stored in hidden folders. The police had been alerted to his activities after his IP address was traced to access illegal websites. The investigation revealed that he had been searching for and viewing such material between July 27 and August 1 of that year. The authorities confiscated the laptops and found the illicit content on one of them, which was linked to his online activity.

Following his arrest, McCabe was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, which mandated that he notify authorities of any travel plans outside the UK. He was also required to attend counseling sessions and was restricted from accessing the internet except for work-related purposes. Despite these restrictions, he was caught online again in 2013, claiming he was only viewing legitimate content like Sky Sports. His latest breach in 2016 led to his appearance at Paisley Sheriff Court, where he admitted to flouting the rules once more.

During the court proceedings, McCabe’s defense lawyer, Alastair Gray, argued that his client’s trip was motivated by family circumstances. He explained that McCabe, who lives with his mother, was acting under the influence of his sister, who paid for the flights after their father’s death. Gray described McCabe as a man who was under emotional distress, caring for his terminally ill father, and suggested that his actions were driven by ignorance rather than malice. The sheriff, Seith Ireland, was unimpressed with this explanation, emphasizing that the rules were clear and that McCabe should have informed police of his travel plans.

Judge Ireland imposed a fine of £460 on McCabe for his breach of the restrictions. The case highlighted ongoing concerns about the management and monitoring of sex offenders, especially those with a history of violating court orders. McCabe’s repeated violations underscore the challenges faced by authorities in ensuring compliance and protecting the public from individuals with a history of sexual offenses.