MICHAEL MURRAY'S CRIMES IN HOLSWORTHY AND SCOTLAND: A DISTURBING TALE OF GROOMING AND ESCAPE

In June 2019, a disturbing incident unfolded involving Michael Murray, a known sex offender from Holsworthy, who managed to evade police detection during a critical moment in his criminal activities. Despite an early warning from a vigilant passenger, Murray, who was under police surveillance, successfully slipped away from authorities while traveling on a train from Bristol to Scotland, a journey spanning approximately 500 miles.

It all began when a fellow passenger at Bristol Temple Meads observed Murray making a video call to a 14-year-old girl while on the train. Alarmed by the inappropriate nature of the call and the apparent age of the girl, the passenger promptly alerted two officers from the British Transport Police. These officers responded quickly, attempting to locate Murray on the train at Cheltenham Spa, but their efforts proved unsuccessful as he was not found onboard.

Later, when officers finally apprehended Murray at Birmingham New Street, he provided a false name and claimed he was traveling to meet his daughter, which was untrue. Despite the deception, he was allowed to continue his journey. It was only two days later that the victim contacted police to report that she had been sexually abused by Murray at a hotel in Fife, Scotland. This revelation confirmed the suspicions and concerns raised earlier.

Following Murray's arrest and subsequent sentencing—he was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at Glasgow High Court—the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) conducted an investigation into the police response. The report, published on a Friday, concluded that seven officers from the British Transport Police had made honest mistakes in good faith during their handling of the incident. These mistakes included failing to obtain a detailed initial account from the passenger who alerted them and not securing a contact number for follow-up.

Furthermore, the officers who stopped Murray at Birmingham New Street did not conduct thorough enough checks to verify his identity or address, which allowed him to continue his journey undetected. The investigation also scrutinized the actions of control room staff involved in the case. The report emphasized that all seven officers involved had acted with good intentions, reflecting on their errors and learning from them. It recommended that BTP (British Transport Police) undertake further training and develop a dedicated unit to improve officers' understanding of their powers and responsibilities, especially in handling reports of concern that could prevent serious harm.

Since the incident, two officers involved have left the force, while others remain employed and are set to receive performance management plans. The police force has already begun implementing lessons learned from this case, including a campaign focused on professional curiosity and the importance of seeking clarity in reports of suspicious activity.

Michael Murray, aged 34 from Devon, had a history of sexual offenses, including previous convictions for indecent assault and exposure. His criminal record and grooming behavior came to light when he was convicted of engaging in unlawful sexual activity with the 14-year-old girl and sending her sexual images and texts. The court heard how Murray initially contacted the girl through an online self-harm support group, pretending to be 18 years old, and gradually built a trusting relationship. Despite claiming to be 25 later, he traveled to Kirkcaldy, Fife, on November 3, 2018, where he met the girl after a passenger became suspicious of his video call and alerted police.

He then checked into a hotel with her, where they engaged in sexual activity. The police recovered numerous sexually explicit messages exchanged between Murray and the girl. It was also revealed that Murray had been in contact with another 14-year-old girl online, asking her for nude photographs and promising to send similar images in return. His actions, which spanned several months from July to November 2017, led to his conviction and imprisonment. The court's judgment underscored the danger posed by Murray, highlighting his manipulative behavior and premeditated grooming of vulnerable young girls.