GLASGOW SEX OFFENDER DONALD KENNEDY SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND BREACHES
In a significant case heard at Airdrie Sheriff Court, Donald Robert Kennedy, a 29-year-old man from Glasgow, was handed an extended custodial sentence after pleading guilty to serious charges related to attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes.The court proceedings, presided over by Sheriff Joseph C Hughes, revealed the gravity of Kennedy's actions and his prior criminal history, which heavily influenced the severity of the sentence.
On June 20, 2025, Sheriff Hughes sentenced Kennedy to an overall term of five years, comprising a custodial period of 36 months, backdated to June 6, 2024, and an additional two-year supervised license period in the community.
The court emphasized that Kennedy’s plea of guilty resulted in a four-month reduction from the original 40-month custodial term, reflecting the court’s consideration of his cooperation.
The case centered around Kennedy’s attempt to arrange a meeting with a girl he believed to be 14 years old, with the intent of engaging in unlawful sexual activity.
The court was informed that Kennedy had communicated with the girl via chat messages, in which he suggested she travel from Yorkshire to Glasgow to meet him.
Evidence from his phone showed that he had researched travel costs, specifically noting that a one-way journey to Glasgow would cost approximately £31.
Kennedy expressed a desire to see her naked and to engage in sexual acts, despite the girl explicitly stating she was only 14 and still at school.
The court described this as a serious offence, especially given the context of Kennedy’s previous convictions.
It was highlighted that Kennedy had a significant criminal record, including a High Court conviction in 2013 for four sexual offences, one of which was directly comparable to the current charges.
He had served an extensive custodial sentence following that conviction.
According to court records, Kennedy was released from custody on June 12, 2023, after approximately ten years of imprisonment.
Less than a year after his release, in June 2024, he committed the offence currently before the court.
In assessing the appropriate punishment, Sheriff Hughes considered two social work reports dated March 28 and April 30, 2025.
These reports indicated that Kennedy had begun to consider how to overcome internal barriers to offending but continued to demonstrate deviant sexual interests, particularly attraction to older female children.
The reports also noted that Kennedy showed little remorse for his actions and had engaged in detailed planning, disregarding multiple opportunities to reconsider his behaviour.
The social workers concluded that no intervention was likely to alter Kennedy’s sexual preferences.
Given the seriousness of the offence, the court determined that a custodial sentence was the only suitable response.
The sentence was further extended under section 210A of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, as the court found that the period Kennedy would otherwise be on licence would not sufficiently protect the public from potential harm upon his release.
As a result, Kennedy was sentenced to an extended period of five years, divided into an immediate custodial term of 36 months and a subsequent two-year period of supervision in the community.
The community supervision will be governed by conditions set by the Scottish Ministers, and breach of these conditions could result in revocation of his licence and re-imprisonment.
Additionally, the court imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to further safeguard the public.
This order, valid for five years, prohibits Kennedy from having contact with females under 16, associating with individuals subject to notification requirements, and possessing or using electronic devices capable of internet access without police oversight.
The order also mandates monitoring software installation, inspection rights, and restrictions on deleting communications or installing concealment software.
Kennedy must also inform authorities of any relationships with adult females and seek approval before undertaking employment.
Furthermore, the court referred Kennedy’s case to Scottish Ministers for consideration of inclusion on the Children’s List or the Adult’s List, indicating potential restrictions on his ability to work with children or vulnerable adults.
The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which the justice system views Kennedy’s offences and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
Historical context of Kennedy’s criminal activity was also discussed.
In September 2013, he admitted to having sex with a 12-year-old girl and breaching a court order that banned him from contacting children.
The incident was uncovered after the girl’s mother discovered evidence of Kennedy’s contact through her daughter’s mobile phone.
Kennedy had initially met the girl in early 2012, and their relationship involved multiple sexual encounters, with Kennedy later caught in a web of lies and breaches of court orders.
His criminal record includes previous convictions for similar offences, and he was remanded in custody following his arrest in 2012.
Despite these measures, Kennedy continued to breach restrictions, including contacting a 13-year-old girl via online advertisements and messaging platforms, which led to further legal action.
As the court concluded, Kennedy’s repeated offending and failure to demonstrate remorse necessitated a stringent custodial and supervisory regime to protect the public from further harm.
The sentence reflects the court’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and deterring similar conduct in the future.
