FRASERBURGH MAN MICHAEL MARNOCH CAUGHT WITH CHILD SEX ABUSE MATERIAL AND ONLINE PREDATION
| Red Rose Database
Fraserburgh Child Sexual Abuser
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Fraserburgh, Michael Marnoch, a 30-year-old resident, was apprehended after being found in possession of child sexual abuse material and engaging in online predatory behavior involving a minor. The incident unfolded in September 2023, when paedophile hunters, operating an online decoy, successfully identified and exposed Marnoch's illicit activities.
According to court reports, the paedophile hunter group set up a fake social media profile, posing as a 13-year-old girl named 'Adele'. On September 7, the group’s decoy account received a message from a user named ‘Amy Stephen’, which was later confirmed to be operated by Marnoch. The conversation quickly took a disturbing turn when Marnoch sent a provocative image of a woman exposing her breasts, claiming it was a picture of himself. He then attempted to persuade the decoy to do the same, despite being aware of her age.
When ‘Adele’ informed Marnoch that she was only 13 years old, he shockingly responded with the phrase, “Age is just a number,” indicating a blatant disregard for her age and the seriousness of the situation. Following this, Marnoch added ‘Adele’ to a Facebook Messenger group chat where multiple sexualized messages, images, and videos were exchanged. Over the course of several days, he continued to send inappropriate messages, including comments like “dam your beautiful” and “bet you have nice boobs,” followed by suggestive requests such as “let’s see.”
On September 12, the decoy operator ceased communication and contacted law enforcement authorities. Police executed a search warrant at Marnoch’s residence on Alexandra Terrace in Fraserburgh. During the search, officers seized a mobile phone, which Marnoch initially claimed belonged to his mother. He also stated that the device was protected by a PIN code but refused to disclose it. Cybercrime forensic analysts later cracked the PIN, confirming that Marnoch was the user of the device and had accessed the illicit material.
Further investigation revealed that Marnoch had downloaded a collection of indecent images of children, including videos featuring toddlers aged between two and three years old. Authorities also discovered that he had entered search terms such as “incest,” “pre-teens,” and “babies” on his device, indicating a disturbing pattern of interest in child exploitation.
Marnoch was charged with multiple offenses, including the possession of indecent images of children and communicating with a minor for sexual gratification, under the false belief that she was under 16. During the court proceedings at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, he pleaded guilty to these charges. Prosecutor Lucy Simpson outlined the details of the case, emphasizing the gravity of the offenses and the manipulative nature of Marnoch’s online conduct.
Sheriff Andrew Miller addressed the court, highlighting the seriousness of the crimes, especially given that Marnoch believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl. The sheriff noted that the offenses involved multiple instances of possession and communication related to child exploitation.
In sentencing, Sheriff Miller opted for a community-based punishment rather than imprisonment. Marnoch was ordered to complete a three-year community payback order with supervision and was mandated to perform 225 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offender’s register for a period of three years, reflecting the ongoing concern for public safety and the need for monitoring his conduct in the future.
According to court reports, the paedophile hunter group set up a fake social media profile, posing as a 13-year-old girl named 'Adele'. On September 7, the group’s decoy account received a message from a user named ‘Amy Stephen’, which was later confirmed to be operated by Marnoch. The conversation quickly took a disturbing turn when Marnoch sent a provocative image of a woman exposing her breasts, claiming it was a picture of himself. He then attempted to persuade the decoy to do the same, despite being aware of her age.
When ‘Adele’ informed Marnoch that she was only 13 years old, he shockingly responded with the phrase, “Age is just a number,” indicating a blatant disregard for her age and the seriousness of the situation. Following this, Marnoch added ‘Adele’ to a Facebook Messenger group chat where multiple sexualized messages, images, and videos were exchanged. Over the course of several days, he continued to send inappropriate messages, including comments like “dam your beautiful” and “bet you have nice boobs,” followed by suggestive requests such as “let’s see.”
On September 12, the decoy operator ceased communication and contacted law enforcement authorities. Police executed a search warrant at Marnoch’s residence on Alexandra Terrace in Fraserburgh. During the search, officers seized a mobile phone, which Marnoch initially claimed belonged to his mother. He also stated that the device was protected by a PIN code but refused to disclose it. Cybercrime forensic analysts later cracked the PIN, confirming that Marnoch was the user of the device and had accessed the illicit material.
Further investigation revealed that Marnoch had downloaded a collection of indecent images of children, including videos featuring toddlers aged between two and three years old. Authorities also discovered that he had entered search terms such as “incest,” “pre-teens,” and “babies” on his device, indicating a disturbing pattern of interest in child exploitation.
Marnoch was charged with multiple offenses, including the possession of indecent images of children and communicating with a minor for sexual gratification, under the false belief that she was under 16. During the court proceedings at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, he pleaded guilty to these charges. Prosecutor Lucy Simpson outlined the details of the case, emphasizing the gravity of the offenses and the manipulative nature of Marnoch’s online conduct.
Sheriff Andrew Miller addressed the court, highlighting the seriousness of the crimes, especially given that Marnoch believed he was communicating with a 13-year-old girl. The sheriff noted that the offenses involved multiple instances of possession and communication related to child exploitation.
In sentencing, Sheriff Miller opted for a community-based punishment rather than imprisonment. Marnoch was ordered to complete a three-year community payback order with supervision and was mandated to perform 225 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offender’s register for a period of three years, reflecting the ongoing concern for public safety and the need for monitoring his conduct in the future.