KARL ELVIK SHOCKS GLASGOW AND WISHAW WITH DECADES OF INDECENCY AGAINST YOUNG BOYS

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Glasgow and Wishaw, Karl Elvik, a former youth leader associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Pollok, Glasgow, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after admitting to a series of serious indecency offences committed over an extended period. The crimes, which spanned from 1986 to 1994, involved multiple young boys and have left a lasting impact on the victims and their families.

Elvik, who was 51 years old at the time of sentencing, was found guilty of a range of disturbing acts, including taking indecent photographs of children, engaging in lewd and libidinous behaviour, and indecent assault. His offences came to light after an anonymous tip was made to the police in 2011, prompting a thorough investigation that uncovered the extent of his misconduct.

The court heard harrowing details of Elvik’s actions, which included taking explicit photographs of boys in states of undress, timing them as they sat naked in cold baths, and rubbing ice cubes on their bodies. The victims ranged in age from 12 to 16 during the period when these offences occurred. Elvik’s predatory behaviour also involved inviting one young boy to go running with him, only to later massage and indecently touch him at his residence.

Further disturbing revelations revealed that Elvik had devised a cruel game where boys would take turns sitting in a cold bath, with the aim of seeing who could endure the longest. During these sessions at his house, he would rub ice cubes on their bodies or force them to strip if they lost the game. On one occasion, when a boy was alone in the flat and sitting in the bath, Elvik entered the bathroom naked and squirted water from a syringe, adding to the list of his abusive acts.

Elvik’s misconduct was not limited to physical acts; he also took indecent images of children, which contributed to his charges. His crimes were only uncovered after one of his victims confronted him years later, during which Elvik begged the young person not to report him to the authorities. Despite this plea, the victim chose to report the incident anonymously in April 2011, leading to the criminal proceedings.

During the court proceedings, Elvik made extensive admissions, providing a list of victims and details of his offending. The court also ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders’ register and to undergo nine months of supervision following his release from prison. His residence at the time of the offences was in Nitshill, Glasgow, although he was known to have lived in Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, prior to his arrest. The case has highlighted the dangers posed by individuals in positions of trust and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable young people.