JOHN SCOTT FROM CLYDEBANK SENTENCED FOR REPEATED SEX OFFENCES AND LIFETIME REGISTRATION

A notorious serial paedophile, John Scott, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term and will be subject to lifelong registration as a sex offender. Scott, aged 54, has been incarcerated since March and will remain behind bars until his release, after which he will be placed under strict supervision. His guilty plea, entered in August, revealed a disturbing pattern of offending that persisted less than five years after his previous convictions. The crimes involved Scott engaging in messaging with individuals who falsely claimed to be minors, despite being aware of their actual ages.

In both instances, Scott communicated with adults who pretended to be teenagers. During police sting operations, these individuals disclosed their true ages, yet Scott continued to send explicit and indecent messages. His criminal behavior dates back to 2020, when he was placed under social work supervision for a period of three years and was subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) for five years. These measures included strict regulations regarding the use of electronic devices, which were to be checked regularly by officers to prevent further offending.

However, despite these restrictions, Scott committed similar crimes again in early 2023. Between February 21 and March 2, he engaged in multiple instances of sending sexual communications and attempted to communicate indecently with someone who was pretending to be 12 years old. On February 21, he also messaged an individual claiming to be 14, and on February 29, he did the same with someone claiming to be 13. Scott admitted to breaching the conditions of his SOPO during these incidents. The offences took place at a flat in Burnside Court, Clydebank, where the crimes were committed.

Scott's previous residences include Bedford Avenue in Clydebank and Braehead in Bonhill. When he appeared in court for sentencing on December 17, his defense solicitor, Phil Lafferty, acknowledged the limited mitigation available. He stated, “He has accepted from an early stage it was his intention to plead guilty. This is his first experience of custody. He has been remanded since March. The experience has not been one he relished. It has already given him an opportunity to reflect. He is determined to change his ways.”

The Crown prosecutor highlighted that police had requested a lifelong restriction order in August, which could only be imposed by the High Court. However, Sheriff William Gallacher clarified that a new SOPO would not be necessary in addition to existing restrictions. He emphasized that his sentencing powers could impose a maximum of ten years in prison and expressed significant concern over Scott’s repeated offending, describing his persistence as troubling. Ultimately, the sheriff sentenced Scott to an extended term of six years, with the first two years to be served in custody, starting from March 4, and the remaining four years on supervised license in the community. Additionally, Scott will be registered on the sex offenders register indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the public from further harm.