JOHN MACDONALD SENTENCED IN AIRDRIE FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEX ABUSE CASES

A man named John MacDonald, aged 30, has been sentenced to two years in prison after a lengthy and disturbing case of child sexual abuse that took place in Airdrie. The conviction follows a three-day trial at Airdrie Sheriff Court, during which a jury of 10 women and five men deliberated for only 50 minutes before returning guilty verdicts on multiple charges.

MacDonald, who resides in Calderbank, was found guilty of abusing two young children over a period spanning several years. The victims, whose identities are protected for legal reasons, included a boy who was just five years old when the abuse began and a girl who was only six at the time. The boy endured a series of sexual assaults that continued until he was 11, with the jury being told that he estimated MacDonald sexually abused him over 900 times. The young girl was subjected to abuse for nearly two years, from when she was six until she was eight.

The court heard that MacDonald forced the young boy to perform a variety of sexual acts at a house in Airdrie, and also showed him pornographic images. The boy, now 25, provided emotional testimony, describing the abuse as occurring three or four times weekly over the course of seven years. He explained that he was too young to understand that what was happening was wrong until he reached secondary school. The jury was also informed that MacDonald sexually assaulted the young girl between May 30, 1992, and May 29, 1994, at two different houses and on parkland located behind Hamilton Drive in Airdrie. The girl, now 24, was visibly upset and sobbed openly in court as the verdict was announced.

Judge John C. Morris QC addressed MacDonald directly during sentencing, emphasizing the severity and duration of the crimes. He stated, “These are very serious charges which went on for an awful long time when you knew what you were doing was not right.”

During the trial, the defense, led by advocate Derek Nelson, argued that MacDonald denied any inappropriate contact with the young boy and admitted to only kissing and cuddling the girl, for which he was physically reprimanded. Nelson also pointed out that MacDonald has lost his job, his family, and his home as a consequence of these allegations. He mentioned that MacDonald was stopped by police for speeding on the day of the court hearing, which prevented him from attending a deferred sentence hearing. The defense further highlighted that there have been no further offenses since MacDonald was 17 years old.

In addition to his prison sentence, MacDonald was ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years. The court also noted the impact on MacDonald’s family, who have faced threats, damage to their property, and have been forced to relocate for their safety. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Airdrie, with the victims and their families seeking justice for the prolonged abuse they endured.