KYLE YOUNG SHOCKS MOTHERWELL AND WISHAW WITH SEX OFFENSES AND PREDATORY BEHAVIOR

In a disturbing series of events spanning several years, Kyle Young, a man originally from Motherwell and with connections to Wishaw, has been at the center of multiple allegations involving sexual misconduct and predatory behavior. His actions, which have shocked the local communities, have led to his recent imprisonment and ongoing legal consequences.

Young, aged 33, initially gained notoriety for his inappropriate conduct while working as a teacher. Previously employed at Clyde Valley High School in Wishaw, Lanarkshire, he was convicted in 2013 for sending sexual messages to a 13-year-old girl. During that incident, Young contacted the young student via Facebook, calling her “stunning” and “sexy,” and requesting photographs of her. The girl, alarmed by his advances, reported him to her grandmother, school authorities, and the police. As a result, Young was sentenced to a three-year community payback order and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for three years. Subsequently, he was struck off the teaching register, effectively ending his career as an educator.

Despite this, Young’s troubling behavior persisted. In 2016, he appeared in court again, admitting to breaching notification requirements of the sex offenders’ register by failing to disclose that he was using an alias on Facebook. He had created a fake account in the name of his 60-year-old mother, Sarah, which was uncovered during police checks. This deception was part of his ongoing attempts to maintain an online presence and continue his activities undetected.

Further allegations emerged in 2017 when Young admitted to sending a nude photograph of himself to a 68-year-old woman, for which he was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and was placed under supervision for three years. These incidents highlight a pattern of inappropriate and illegal online conduct.

Most recently, in January 2020, Young’s misconduct escalated to a new level. While working at William Grant & Sons, a drinks company, he began targeting three female colleagues, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Young’s behavior included sending sexually explicit messages and images, including a photo of his erect penis to one colleague, and making unsolicited advances to others. One woman, while on holiday in Blackpool with her husband, received a phone call from Young, during which he expressed his love for her and offered to send a revealing photo to prove his feelings. The same woman was left horrified upon opening her phone to find the explicit image and a message asking, “do you want me?”

Another colleague was subjected to similar harassment, with Young sending her multiple messages, including the explicit images, and asking if she wanted him. The third woman was also targeted, with Young complimenting her as “beautiful” and “gorgeous,” and requesting a bikini picture. These actions prompted the women to report the incidents to their employer, leading to Young’s dismissal in March 2019. Police were subsequently involved, and Young was charged with three counts of sending sexual communications between August 2018 and March 2019.

During the court proceedings, Deputy Fiscal Lynn McFauld detailed the disturbing nature of Young’s conduct. She explained that the first complainant, while on holiday in Blackpool, received a call from Young, who expressed his love and offered to send a provocative photo. She described how she was overwhelmed by the barrage of texts and messages that followed, which she eventually reported to HR. The second complainant, who had initially tried to distance herself, was later sent explicit images, including two pictures of Young’s erect penis, accompanied by the question, “do you want me?” The third woman, after passing her number to Young during a seminar and day out, was also subjected to flirtatious messages and a request for a bikini photo.

In light of these serious allegations, Sheriff Allan McKay deferred sentencing Young until next month, pending further reports. He also remanded Young in custody and ordered him to be placed on the sex offenders’ register. It is noteworthy that Young’s criminal history includes a 2013 conviction for similar offenses involving a minor, which resulted in a three-year registration period and a ban from teaching. His history of deception and online misconduct underscores a troubling pattern of predatory behavior that has persisted over several years.

Community reactions have been mixed, with victims and their families expressing outrage over what they perceive as leniency. Rebecca, a teenage girl who was targeted by Young when she was just 13, spoke out after he received a community order rather than jail. She stated, “I think the sentence was soft and he is lucky not to be going to jail. I expected a tougher punishment. But I don’t regret for a minute stepping forward and letting people know what he was up to.” Rebecca’s courage in reporting Young has been praised, and her case has contributed to the ongoing debate about appropriate sentencing for sexual predators.

Overall, the case of Kyle Young highlights the dangers of online grooming and predatory conduct, especially among individuals in trusted positions. His actions have left a lasting impact on his victims and serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and accountability in safeguarding communities from such harmful behavior.