HUGH SIM FROM RENFREW SHOCKS GLASGOW WITH HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE AND DISTRIBUTION OF INDECENT IMAGES
| Red Rose Database
Renfrew Rapist
In a deeply disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Glasgow and the town of Renfrew, Hugh Sim, aged 30, has been convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse and exploitation of a young girl. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of depravity that spanned over two years, during which Sim engaged in repeated acts of abuse against a girl who was only three years old at the start of the offending period.
Sim’s criminal activities came to light after police investigations uncovered a series of indecent images and videos that he had taken and shared. The images, which depicted the young girl in various states of undress and engaged in sexual acts, were discovered by authorities in New Zealand, where they were being circulated within a paedophile chat group. The police traced the source of the images back to Sim, who had sent them from his home in Renfrew to other members of the illicit online community.
During the trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Johnston delivered a stern judgment, condemning Sim’s actions as catastrophic for the victim. The judge stated, “You were convicted of a catalogue of sexual offending over a two-year period starting when your victim was three. You photographed and filmed that abuse which took place many times for your sexual gratification. These images were distributed online and found by police in New Zealand. The damage you have caused to that little girl is catastrophic, and she now has difficulty forming attachments.”
Sim attempted to deny his involvement, claiming that the individual seen in the videos with the young girl was not him. However, a former partner of Sim’s identified him based on his distinctive heavyset build and ginger body hair. The investigation in New Zealand revealed that one of the users in the chat group had logged in from the UK, and further internet searches confirmed that the subscriber was Hugh Sim.
He was convicted on multiple charges, including making and distributing indecent photographs of children, and sexually abusing the girl between 2013 and 2015 at his residence in Renfrew. The court also found him guilty of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of the young girl when she was between three and five years old. Although initially charged with rape, that particular charge was withdrawn by the Crown, likely due to insufficient evidence to proceed with such a serious allegation.
Prosecutor Lisa Gillespie emphasized the severity of the case, stating, “There is no doubt that the images of the girl have been distributed, because they were found by police in New Zealand. So at the very least, they must have been distributed there.” The court viewed graphic evidence, including videos where Sim exposes the girl’s private parts while she protests and attempts to cover herself. Numerous photographs showed her sitting naked on a toy car or in a kitchen, only wearing pink pants, with her face deliberately cropped out to avoid identification.
Throughout the proceedings, Sim maintained his innocence, denying all charges and claiming he was not the person responsible for the photographs or abuse. The young victim was not called to testify in court; instead, the prosecution relied on the graphic images to establish guilt. Prosecutor Gillespie remarked, “She can’t come into the witness box and tell us who did these things to her. That is why we had to show these images. The person who took those images and abused the young girl was the accused. It is as clear as if she herself had walked into the courtroom and pointed out Sim and said: ‘It was him.’”
In a separate but related case in May 2017, Sim was found guilty of repeatedly assaulting the same young girl over a two-year period at his flat in Renfrew. The court heard that he continued to abuse the girl even as she clung to her Iggle Piggle doll, with footage showing her begging “no” as he molested her on camera. The judge, Johanna Johnston QC, sentenced him to prison, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes and the need to protect the public.
Judge Johnston stated, “You have been convicted of a number of serious sexual offences. You will be subject to the provisions of the Sex Offenders’ Register. It is not appropriate for you to be at liberty.” As he was led away in handcuffs, Sim appeared visibly shocked. The court also heard that he had initially faced a charge of raping the girl, but this was withdrawn. Evidence presented included photographs and videos taken in his flat’s living room and bathroom, which depicted the girl in various states of undress and in distress.
The police investigation was triggered after authorities in New Zealand identified a social media group sharing child abuse images, which was linked to Sim’s IP address. The flat in Renfrew was described as unkempt, with clothing strewn across the floor, and the devices used to record the abuse included a black LG smartphone gifted to him by Ms. McVey. The police also linked the material to a paedophile group run by Drew Webb, aged 18, who was caught with related images in Christchurch, New Zealand.
After a thorough three-hour deliberation, the jury of nine women and six men unanimously convicted Hugh Sim on five charges, including sexual assault, forcing the girl into sexual activity, and the production and distribution of indecent images. His sentencing is scheduled for June 20, where he faces a lengthy prison term for his despicable crimes.
Sim’s criminal activities came to light after police investigations uncovered a series of indecent images and videos that he had taken and shared. The images, which depicted the young girl in various states of undress and engaged in sexual acts, were discovered by authorities in New Zealand, where they were being circulated within a paedophile chat group. The police traced the source of the images back to Sim, who had sent them from his home in Renfrew to other members of the illicit online community.
During the trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Johnston delivered a stern judgment, condemning Sim’s actions as catastrophic for the victim. The judge stated, “You were convicted of a catalogue of sexual offending over a two-year period starting when your victim was three. You photographed and filmed that abuse which took place many times for your sexual gratification. These images were distributed online and found by police in New Zealand. The damage you have caused to that little girl is catastrophic, and she now has difficulty forming attachments.”
Sim attempted to deny his involvement, claiming that the individual seen in the videos with the young girl was not him. However, a former partner of Sim’s identified him based on his distinctive heavyset build and ginger body hair. The investigation in New Zealand revealed that one of the users in the chat group had logged in from the UK, and further internet searches confirmed that the subscriber was Hugh Sim.
He was convicted on multiple charges, including making and distributing indecent photographs of children, and sexually abusing the girl between 2013 and 2015 at his residence in Renfrew. The court also found him guilty of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of the young girl when she was between three and five years old. Although initially charged with rape, that particular charge was withdrawn by the Crown, likely due to insufficient evidence to proceed with such a serious allegation.
Prosecutor Lisa Gillespie emphasized the severity of the case, stating, “There is no doubt that the images of the girl have been distributed, because they were found by police in New Zealand. So at the very least, they must have been distributed there.” The court viewed graphic evidence, including videos where Sim exposes the girl’s private parts while she protests and attempts to cover herself. Numerous photographs showed her sitting naked on a toy car or in a kitchen, only wearing pink pants, with her face deliberately cropped out to avoid identification.
Throughout the proceedings, Sim maintained his innocence, denying all charges and claiming he was not the person responsible for the photographs or abuse. The young victim was not called to testify in court; instead, the prosecution relied on the graphic images to establish guilt. Prosecutor Gillespie remarked, “She can’t come into the witness box and tell us who did these things to her. That is why we had to show these images. The person who took those images and abused the young girl was the accused. It is as clear as if she herself had walked into the courtroom and pointed out Sim and said: ‘It was him.’”
In a separate but related case in May 2017, Sim was found guilty of repeatedly assaulting the same young girl over a two-year period at his flat in Renfrew. The court heard that he continued to abuse the girl even as she clung to her Iggle Piggle doll, with footage showing her begging “no” as he molested her on camera. The judge, Johanna Johnston QC, sentenced him to prison, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes and the need to protect the public.
Judge Johnston stated, “You have been convicted of a number of serious sexual offences. You will be subject to the provisions of the Sex Offenders’ Register. It is not appropriate for you to be at liberty.” As he was led away in handcuffs, Sim appeared visibly shocked. The court also heard that he had initially faced a charge of raping the girl, but this was withdrawn. Evidence presented included photographs and videos taken in his flat’s living room and bathroom, which depicted the girl in various states of undress and in distress.
The police investigation was triggered after authorities in New Zealand identified a social media group sharing child abuse images, which was linked to Sim’s IP address. The flat in Renfrew was described as unkempt, with clothing strewn across the floor, and the devices used to record the abuse included a black LG smartphone gifted to him by Ms. McVey. The police also linked the material to a paedophile group run by Drew Webb, aged 18, who was caught with related images in Christchurch, New Zealand.
After a thorough three-hour deliberation, the jury of nine women and six men unanimously convicted Hugh Sim on five charges, including sexual assault, forcing the girl into sexual activity, and the production and distribution of indecent images. His sentencing is scheduled for June 20, where he faces a lengthy prison term for his despicable crimes.