LEWIS FINDLAY AND SHOCKING SEXUAL ABUSE IN WEST LOTHIAN AND BO'NESS
A Scots Scoutmaster named Lewis Findlay, who was a leader of a Scout troop, has been involved in a disturbing case of a sexual relationship with a teenage girl, which spanned over ten months.Despite the serious nature of his actions and the breach of trust inherent in his role, Findlay narrowly escaped serving a prison sentence following his court hearing at Falkirk Sheriff Court.
The case revealed unsettling details about Findlay’s misconduct, involving a girl he had known since she was 12 years old.
At the time of the offenses, he was 23 years old, and his victim was only 15.
The court was informed that initially, the girl believed Findlay’s interest in her was simply supportive in nature rather than inappropriate or romantic.
This misconception persisted until November 2018, when the events took a darker turn.
In November 2018, at Findlay’s residence in Bo'ness, West Lothian, a disturbing incident occurred.
While Findlay’s girlfriend was abroad and his mother was also away from the house, leaving them alone, the Scout leader made unwanted advances towards the girl.
The two were sitting on his bed watching a film when Findlay allegedly told her, “just let it happen,” indicating a direct attempt to initiate sexual activity.
The prosecutor, Alex Kirk, explained that the girl was hesitant and appeared uncomfortable, but she acquiesced to avoid the situation becoming more awkward.
The following month, Findlay engaged in further sexual acts with the girl, this time in the confines of his car parked in a layby.
As time progressed, the perception of their relationship deepened in Findlay’s mind, with the girl believing they were “seeing each other.” The court heard that their encounters occurred a few times each month, often in secluded laybys along quiet back roads located in Stirlingshire and West Lothian.
The girl eventually confided in another adult about her experiences, encouraging her to make a report.
Initially reluctant, she refused, but Findlay himself later reported the matter to authorities.
Following this, he was suspended from his role with the Scout Association.
Despite these developments, the girl initially denied all allegations when questioned by police and social workers.
After a short break from contact, the incidents resumed.
Around the end of August 2019, Findlay began buying lingerie for her and sending explicit pictures.
The girl was pressured into dressing up in the lingerie, despite her initial refusal, and only agreed after Findlay persistently asked.
Mrs.
Kirk, the prosecutor, remarked that this incident made the girl realize just how much older and more manipulative Findlay was.
Feeling overwhelmed, she ended the relationship and blocked Findlay on Snapchat.
However, he continued to contact her through texts and Facebook Messenger, which caused her significant distress.
Among these messages was a lengthy one containing a list of fifty things that Findlay claimed he loved about her, further intensifying her stress and confusion.
In November 2019, Scout leaders were made aware of the ongoing messaging between Findlay and the girl.
After reviewing the communications, they concluded that a sexual relationship was still active.
The police were called once more, and in February of the following year, Findlay was formally charged.
Now 24 years old, he pleaded guilty in court to charges of unlawful sexual intercourse and stalking.
During the hearing, defense advocate Niall McCluskey explained that Findlay had developed feelings for the girl, describing how he “craved” her.
McCluskey acknowledged that Findlay understood the seriousness of his actions, admitting that as an adult, he should have known better and expressed regret for not managing his impulses properly.
He also mentioned that Findlay was expecting a child in October, stemming from a long-term relationship with his partner.
A reference letter from a youth leader highlighted Findlay's positive involvement in volunteering, dating back to 2015, and described him as “steadfast and true.” The project “Heart and Soul,” which he was involved in through the National Youth Assembly connected to the Church of Scotland, was also mentioned as part of his background.
Sheriff Simon Collins QC sentenced Findlay to 300 hours of unpaid community work, imposed social work supervision for a period, and ordered him to register as a sex offender for three years.
Additionally, he was ordered to participate in the Scottish Government’s “Moving Forward, Making Changes” program if required and was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16.
The sheriff emphasized that Findlay’s misconduct was a betrayal of the trust placed in him due to his position in the Scout movement.
While the offenses involved elements of consent due to the ages involved, Sheriff Collins expressed that he had considered whether prison was appropriate.
Ultimately, he decided that a community-based sentence was sufficient, given the circumstances.
Findlay arrived at court with his belongings packed for jail but chose not to comment when asked by reporters as he left.
The Scout Association responded with a statement confirming that Findlay had been suspended from his role in December 2019 after concerns about his conduct surfaced.
They assured the public that he would never again volunteer with the organization, reiterating their commitment to safeguarding their members through rigorous vetting processes and cooperation with statutory agencies.
The organization also stated that all members are required to adhere to their strict “Young People First” Code of Practice to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all young people involved.
