DECLAN BOYLE FROM WISHAW SHAMES COMMUNITY AFTER GROOMING YOUNG BOYS AND SHOWING SEXUAL IMAGES

In November 2018, a disturbing case involving Declan Boyle, a resident of Wishaw, has garnered significant attention following his conviction for grooming two young boys and exposing them to graphic sexual images. Boyle, aged 22 at the time, was found guilty of heinous acts that spanned over several years, beginning when one of his victims was just three years old.

Boyle’s criminal behavior came to light after a police investigation was initiated when a young boy confided in his family about inappropriate incidents involving Boyle. Authorities discovered a collection of pornographic material stored on Boyle’s phone, iPod, and computer devices. Despite Boyle’s vehement denial of the allegations, a jury at Hamilton Sheriff Court convicted him of two charges of intentionally causing children to view sexual images, covering the period from December 2010 to July 2015. An additional charge related to lewd and indecent practices towards one of the boys was dropped during the proceedings.

The grooming process reportedly involved Boyle engaging his victims through online video games, such as Flappy Birds, which he used as a means to establish trust and manipulate the children. After initially playing these innocent games, Boyle transitioned to showing the boys cartoon characters engaged in sexual acts, a tactic that deeply traumatized the victims. One of the boys was also shown a naked photograph of Boyle himself, further complicating the case and highlighting the extent of Boyle’s disturbing behavior.

One of the victims, now an adult, testified that Boyle’s abuse began when he was only three years old and continued for five years. The other victim was targeted when he was just seven years old. The court heard that Boyle’s actions had a lasting impact on the boys, with one mother expressing her relief at the court’s decision. She told the Wishaw Press, “The feeling is one of total relief. I’ve never been so glad of anything in my life. Finally, we can look forward instead of looking back and worrying. We can now start the healing process without this hanging over us. Everyone is just relieved. He would have made the kids go back in the witness box if he could.”

Following his conviction, Boyle was sentenced to a three-year community payback order with supervision, a measure intended to monitor his behavior and prevent further offenses. The case also prompted a strong reaction from the local community, especially in Wishaw’s Craigneuk area, where Boyle resided. In February 2018, just hours after Boyle appeared in court, angry residents targeted his home, smashing windows and forcing him to flee the neighborhood. His house was subsequently boarded up as a precaution.

One local resident commented, “There has been a lot of ill feeling round here since it came out what he had been up to. It has built up given how long the court case has lasted for and people had just had enough. The victims have been through so much and people took things into their own hands.” Police intervened quickly, removing Boyle from the premises amid rising tensions. Despite police warnings that anyone attempting to attack Boyle would be arrested, the community’s anger was palpable, with many expressing their disgust and calling for him to be kept away from the area.

Additional details revealed that Boyle had targeted his victims over a period of several years, with one victim recounting that the abuse started when he was just three years old. The other victim was only seven at the time of his victimization. Due to fears of retaliation or further harm, Boyle has reportedly been relocated to a secret location within Lanarkshire. The community’s response underscores the deep-seated outrage and the desire for justice in this disturbing case, which has left a lasting scar on the local area.