LIAM CUNNINGHAM FROM LEVEN ESCAPES JAIL AFTER HORRIFIC CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN KIRKCALDY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Leven, Liam Cunningham appeared before Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court in May 2018 to face charges related to a series of heinous sexual offenses involving young boys. Cunningham, aged 19 at the time, was found guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault against four boys, all under the age of 13, with incidents spanning from 2014 to 2017.

During the court proceedings, Cunningham showed no visible emotion as the mother of one of his victims expressed her anguish. She loudly shouted at him through the glass barrier in the dock, exclaiming, “You’re a f****** paedo. My son tried to kill himself because of you,” before breaking down and fleeing the courtroom in tears. Her emotional outburst underscored the profound impact of Cunningham’s actions on the victims and their families.

Despite the severity of the crimes, Cunningham narrowly avoided a custodial sentence. The sheriff criticized him for his refusal to accept responsibility, which influenced the court’s decision. Instead of jail, Cunningham was sentenced to a period of supervision lasting three years. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for the same duration and complete 250 hours of unpaid community service.

The court heard that Cunningham committed a series of disturbing acts in different locations around Leven and Kennoway. He was convicted of engaging in sexual acts with a young boy in a wooded area of the Broom Estate in Leven between 2014 and 2016. Further, he was found guilty of performing a similar act on another boy under 13 in the same area in 2016. The third conviction involved sexually assaulting a third young boy in the Den area of Kennoway between December 2016 and January 2017. During this period, Cunningham also abused a fourth young boy at the same location.

Sheriff Gilchrist addressed Cunningham directly, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses. The sheriff remarked, “I think you need to find a way to get to the point where you can accept that you have committed serious offences. The background to this case is particularly unfortunate and your response during the social work report was also unfortunate. You appear to have had inappropriate interactions with much younger children and that age gap created a power imbalance.”

As part of his sentence, Cunningham was prohibited from having any contact with children under 16 unless supervised. He was also ordered to submit any electronic devices for examination to ensure compliance with restrictions and to prevent further abuse. The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Leven, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children from predators like Liam Cunningham.