JACK MCKAY FROM DUNDEE FACES LIFE RESTRICTION AFTER SEXUAL ATTACK IN PRISON
In December 2017, Dundee's notorious sex offender Jack McKay found himself at the center of a serious legal hearing following a disturbing incident within Perth Prison.McKay, a man with a long and troubling history of sexual offences spanning over four decades, was accused of sexually assaulting his cell-mate, prompting the court to consider imposing a lifelong restriction order due to the perceived danger he poses to the public.
McKay, who gained notoriety for exposing himself to schoolboys while wearing a Dundee United football shirt, has been involved in numerous sexual misconduct cases since 1976.
His criminal record includes more than a dozen convictions of a similar nature, and he was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order in 2012.
Despite this, he was placed in a shared cell with a vulnerable inmate, a decision that drew criticism during the court proceedings.
The incident in question occurred earlier this year when McKay, who was serving a 32-month sentence after being convicted for repeatedly confronting his paperboy while naked from the waist down, was housed in Perth Prison.
Upon his arrival in March, he was assigned to a cell with a 28-year-old man who was initially unknown to him.
The two inmates initially appeared to get along, but on July 7, McKay sexually assaulted his younger cell-mate.
The victim, who was more than 30 years his junior and had no prior history of sexual offences, initially froze in fear but eventually managed to fend off the attack.
During the court hearing, Sheriff William Wood expressed his concern over the prison's decision to house McKay with a vulnerable individual.
He stated that the court was considering a risk assessment for a lifelong restriction order, emphasizing that McKay's long history of sexual offences and the pattern of his behaviour indicated a significant danger to the community.
Both the prosecution and the defence questioned the wisdom of placing McKay in a shared cell with someone who was vulnerable, especially given his known dangerous tendencies.
Solicitor Gary Fowlis argued that housing McKay in a single occupancy cell would have been a more appropriate choice, criticizing the prison authorities and the Scottish Government for their handling of the situation.
He pointed out that the prison was aware of McKay's history and questioned whether sufficient resources were allocated to protect vulnerable inmates.
Prosecutor John Malpass highlighted that McKay's victim was a young man serving time for dishonesty and drug offences, with no prior sexual offence history.
He noted that the Scottish Prison Service had acknowledged the circumstances but claimed there was no alternative accommodation available at the time.
In addition to the recent assault, McKay's criminal record includes a 2017 incident where he was caught exposing himself to children in Dundee, with charges relating to two separate occasions between August 2015 and December of the previous year.
His first sexual offence was committed in 1976, and he has been convicted multiple times since then, including two cases at the High Court level.
The Scottish Prison Service issued a statement refusing to comment on individual prisoners but reiterated their policies regarding inmate safety and housing arrangements.
As the court deliberates, the focus remains on assessing the risk McKay poses and whether a lifelong restriction order is justified to prevent future harm to the community.
