DAVID WOLSTENCROFT'S HORRIFIC THREATS IN GLASGOW LEAD TO LIFE SENTENCE
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community, 21-year-old David Wolstencroft, a convicted sex offender with a disturbing history, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the High Court in Edinburgh for making chilling threats to harm children.The court heard that Wolstencroft, who had previously been convicted of sex offences at the age of 16, had left a menacing message on his computer, explicitly threatening to rape and murder young children.
The severity of these threats was underscored by the presiding judge, Lord Drummond Young, who remarked that it was difficult to conceive of threats more heinous than those made by Wolstencroft.
Wolstencroft’s criminal history includes an indecent assault on a female psychologist working with him, which led to his initial placement on probation.
Despite this, he failed to adhere to the strict supervision and support measures, ultimately fleeing from a support worker while under 24-hour supervision.
During the incident, police found him near student accommodation in Glasgow, engaged in a sex act on himself and armed with two screwdrivers.
Wolstencroft later admitted to breaching the peace twice and possessing offensive weapons.
The court detailed that Wolstencroft’s actions and background were deeply troubling.
The judge emphasized that the most serious charge involved threats to sexually assault and potentially murder small children, describing these threats as among the worst imaginable.
Given the gravity of the case, Lord Drummond Young concluded that a life sentence was the only appropriate measure to protect the public.
Further background reports painted a bleak picture of Wolstencroft’s history, describing it as “appalling” and highlighting his failure to benefit from previous intensive probation efforts.
The judge characterized his past conduct as a “complete dismal failure,” indicating that his pattern of behaviour demonstrated an inability to control his sexual urges.
On April 8, Wolstencroft was residing in a flat on St George’s Road in Glasgow, where he had agreed to 24-hour supervision as part of his probation conditions.
That evening, when his support worker arrived at around 5:00 PM BST, Wolstencroft appeared hyperactive and agitated.
He requested to go for a walk, and they headed towards a canal, but he repeatedly threatened to run away.
He eventually fled towards the city centre and was later found at Firhill Court student accommodation.
During the police investigation, Wolstencroft claimed he needed the screwdrivers for protection, stating he had £50 with him.
When questioned about his intentions, he revealed that the information was stored on a disk in his room.
His support worker discovered a note attached to his computer screen, which included a photograph of a young female and a hidden disk behind the note.
Wolstencroft later admitted to breaching the peace at a canal bank behind the student accommodation and possessing offensive weapons.
He also confessed to creating a threatening computer document at his flat on St George’s Road, which contained explicit threats to sexually assault and kill children.
In light of these events, the judge ordered Wolstencroft to serve a minimum of 30 months before being eligible for parole and mandated his registration on the sex offenders’ register.
Addressing the court, Lord Drummond Young stated, “Your previous convictions disclose similar offences which suggest you are unable to control your sexual urges.” He emphasized that the threats contained within the computer file must be taken extremely seriously, given the circumstances, and highlighted the potential danger Wolstencroft poses to society.
