CALLUM BOWIE FROM MORAY CAUGHT AGAIN IN SEX OFFENDER CASE INVOLVING CHILDREN IN MORAY AND ROTHES
In August 2022, a disturbing case emerged involving Callum Bowie, an 18-year-old resident of Moray, who was found to have sent explicit images and videos of his private parts to a 13-year-old girl.Bowie claimed that his actions were merely a 'drunken mistake,' a defense he used during his initial court appearance.
As a result of his conduct, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register, a measure that underscores the seriousness of his offenses.
The incident took place in December 2020, when Bowie, then 18 years old, communicated with the young girl via Snapchat.
The court heard that the pair had been in regular contact through social media platforms and had even met up on several occasions in the presence of mutual friends in Rothes, a town within Moray.
Initially, their conversations were described as general and innocuous, but the tone shifted when Bowie sent the girl explicit images of his private parts, accompanied by the caption “yes 100%.” Following this, he sent another similar image with the words “you are not, you are a queen,” which further escalated the inappropriate nature of their exchanges.
When the girl questioned why Bowie was sending her such messages, he responded by sending two additional indecent images, this time with captions reading “Not even a little bit XX” and “That’s okay, I will use a condom.” The young girl, feeling uncomfortable and distressed by the messages, immediately blocked Bowie on social media.
The court proceedings revealed that Bowie admitted to sending offensive communications to a minor, a serious offense that warranted legal action.
Sheriff Robert MacDonald sentenced Bowie, who was 20 at the time of sentencing and no longer residing in Moray, to a one-year supervision order and 80 hours of unpaid community service.
Additionally, Bowie was ordered to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders register for a period of 12 months and to participate in the Moray Sex Offenders’ Programme.
However, the troubling pattern of behavior did not end there.
In May 2025, Bowie, now 23, appeared once again in court after being convicted of communicating indecently with a child for a second time.
This time, the offense involved him sending explicit images and videos to what he believed was a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat.
His solicitor at the time argued that Bowie’s previous actions were a “drunken mistake” and claimed there was “no risk” that would necessitate his inclusion on the sex offenders register.
The solicitor expressed confidence that Bowie would not reoffend.
Despite these assurances, less than a year after his first conviction, Bowie was caught again.
This time, an undercover police officer posed as a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat, and Bowie, who admitted to the offense, was found to have sent several explicit images, including one of an erect penis, between July 13 and 26, 2023.
Bowie had provided police with his Snapchat profile name and phone number during the investigation, indicating ongoing contact with minors.
The court heard that Bowie’s actions were being closely monitored by law enforcement, and his case was brought before Sheriff Ian Cruickshank at Inverness Sheriff Court.
The court deferred sentencing until July 1 to allow for a background report and to consider the imposition of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
As part of the legal process, Bowie was once again placed on the sex offenders register, reflecting the gravity of his repeated offenses involving minors in Moray and Rothes.
