CAROLINE GREIG AND STEVEN MCLACHLAN SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN LOTHIAN AND PITSLIGO

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Lothian and Pitsligo, a woman named Caroline Greig and a man named Steven McLachlan have been convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the sexual abuse of a young boy. The incident, which came to light in September 2016, revealed a disturbing pattern of online communication and exploitation that spanned several locations and involved the use of social media platforms.

Caroline Greig, aged 47, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after admitting to the sexual assault of a minor and sharing indecent images of the abuse. Her co-accused, Steven McLachlan, aged 52, received a similar sentence after it was established that he had received over 40 photographs depicting the abuse of the young boy. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Greig had actively sent these depraved images to McLachlan via Facebook Messenger while he was working on the Ninian South oil platform in the North Sea.

The court was told that Greig and McLachlan’s online relationship was not only sexual but also deeply disturbing, with McLachlan encouraging Greig to carry out acts of abuse on the child, who was described as being “clearly prepubescent.” Prosecutor Tim Niven-Smith emphasized that McLachlan’s role was one of encouragement, which directly led to Greig perpetrating the sexual acts. The pair’s actions were described as an attempt to act out a sexual fantasy, highlighting the disturbing nature of their conduct.

The abuse took place at a residence in the Lothians last October, where Greig, who previously worked offshore, maintained contact with former colleagues. Through these contacts, she connected with McLachlan on Facebook, and their online relationship eventually turned sexual. It was revealed that McLachlan, a shutdown supervisor from Pitsligo in Aberdeenshire, had never met Greig in person nor had any physical contact with the child victim. Despite the geographical distance, their online communications facilitated the disturbing acts of abuse.

Judge Lady Carmichael, presiding over the case, expressed her condemnation of their actions, stating, “I cannot distinguish between you. The only appropriate disposal is the imposition of a custodial sentence.” Her words underscored the severity of the crimes committed and the need for justice to be served for the young victim and the community at large.