JOHN BOYD FROM PRESTONPANS SENTENCED IN EAST LOTHIAN FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN

In a case that has drawn significant public attention and concern, John Boyd, a resident of Prestonpans in East Lothian, has been finally sentenced to serve time in prison after a series of disturbing offences involving a young girl. The sequence of events, legal proceedings, and subsequent appeals reveal a troubling pattern of predatory behavior that spanned over several years.

In March 2021, Boyd, aged 54, was convicted of sexually assaulting a ten-year-old girl. The incident occurred in 2019 when Boyd lured the young girl into a bedroom, where he proceeded to grope her and kiss her. The court heard that Boyd's misconduct extended beyond physical assault, as he also engaged in sending the girl highly inappropriate and vile messages via WhatsApp. Among these messages were statements such as “I am in bed dreaming of you,” “I love your lips, they are so kissable,” and “I can’t wait to hold you in my arms,” which demonstrated a clear pattern of grooming and manipulation.

Boyd, who works as an HGV driver, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in October 2020, where he pleaded guilty to two charges related to his misconduct. Despite this being his third conviction for similar offences, he was initially given a relatively lenient sentence. Sheriff John Mundy imposed a supervision order, required Boyd to register as a sex offender for three years, and mandated attendance at appointments with the specialist sex offender organization CISSO. However, the Crown Office was not satisfied with this sentence and subsequently lodged an appeal.

On the appeal hearing, the judges, led by Lord Pentland, reviewed the case and found that the original sentence failed to adequately reflect the severity, deliberation, and persistence of Boyd’s grooming behavior. The appeal court quashed the initial sentence and replaced it with a 12-month imprisonment. Additionally, Boyd was ordered to remain on the sex offenders register for ten years. Lord Pentland emphasized that the original sentencing did not properly recognize the gravity of Boyd’s actions, stating, “We consider that the sheriff has failed to recognise the gravity, deliberation and persistence of the grooming of the child.”

Prior to this, in October 2020, Boyd had already been involved in another disturbing case involving a ten-year-old girl. In that incident, Boyd, who had previous convictions dating back to 2001 involving girls aged ten and fifteen, engaged in inappropriate communication with the young girl over several weeks. He referred to her as his “girlfriend,” called her “my gorgeous princess,” and repeatedly expressed love for her through WhatsApp messages. The court heard that Boyd lured the girl into a bedroom, where he kissed her with an open mouth and squeezed her buttocks.

Following his guilty plea, Boyd was forced to leave his home in Prestonpans after residents protested against his actions. His house was subsequently boarded up, and he was compelled to move away from the community amid public outrage. During the court proceedings, Boyd was sentenced to a three-year community payback order, which included a supervision requirement and attendance at a rehabilitation course for sex offenders. His legal representative, Jim Stephenson, acknowledged that Boyd had lost his job following his conviction and accepted responsibility for his actions.

Further details revealed that Boyd had engaged in inappropriate messaging with the young girl, including asking for photos and making comments about her appearance. The court was told that Boyd and the girl had gone to the cinema together with her mother’s permission, and he had encouraged her to do her hair and makeup, referring to their outing as a “date.” The messages exchanged on WhatsApp included compliments such as “You look beautiful” and expressions of longing like “I miss you too. Missing my kisses and cuddles.”

On August 5 of the same year, Boyd’s misconduct escalated when he took the girl to an upstairs bedroom during a gathering at his house. Court testimony detailed how Boyd lifted her up, touched her bottom, and engaged in kissing her with an open mouth, even sucking on her lip. He also told her she was a “good kisser” and remarked, “I’ll go to jail if you tell. I’m too old.” The girl, distressed by the incident, confided in her mother afterward, which led to public outrage and protests in Prestonpans. The community’s response was swift and severe, with Boyd being forced to move from his home and his property being vandalized with boarded-up windows.

These cases highlight the ongoing concerns about child safety and the importance of strict legal consequences for offenders like John Boyd. His actions have not only caused significant harm to the victims but have also sparked community outrage and calls for greater protective measures against such predatory behavior.