PAUL MCLELLAN: DUNDEE TATTOOIST AND SEX OFFENDER FACING LONG JAIL SENTENCE FOR ABUSE OF TEENAGE GIRLS
In March 2016, a disturbing case unfolded involving Paul McLellan, a tattoo artist based in Dundee, who was found guilty of heinous sexual offenses committed against teenage girls.The conviction followed a retrial that revealed a pattern of predatory behavior intertwined with his tattooing activities.
McLellan, aged 46 at the time, was convicted of eight separate counts of sexual assault and misconduct involving five victims, four of whom were only 15 years old.
Despite these convictions, he was acquitted on four additional charges of sexual assault involving two other teenagers, with the jury returning not proven verdicts on those counts.
During the proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh, McLellan admitted to tattooing minors at various addresses in Dundee, including his former residence in Bonnethill Court, during the years 2012 and 2013.
His history of previous convictions for similar offenses cast a long shadow over his current case.
Notably, he had previously been sentenced to life imprisonment under an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) after an earlier trial, reflecting the severity of his criminal behavior.
His initial conviction in Dundee Sheriff Court in 2013 led to his transfer to the High Court due to the gravity of the charges and the court’s greater sentencing powers.
Lord Uist, presiding over that case, described McLellan as “a habitual and incorrigible offender” who posed a significant threat to young females.
The judge ordered that McLellan serve a minimum of five years in prison, but under the OLR, any potential release would be subject to parole board approval, emphasizing the ongoing danger he represented.
Following the conviction, McLellan’s legal team appealed, arguing that there had been misdirection by the sheriff during the original trial.
This appeal resulted in the quashing of his conviction, and the case was remitted for a new prosecution, which led to the recent retrial.
The current judge, Lord Boyd of Duncansby, warned McLellan that he was considering “at the least” imposing an extended sentence involving both custody and supervision, and possibly an OLR.
He explicitly told McLellan, “You have been convicted by the jury of a number of charges against young girls.
It is clear on the basis of your previous convictions that you remain a danger to young girls.” As part of the sentencing process, McLellan was placed on the sex offenders register, and the court scheduled a further hearing for next month to review a background report.
He remains in custody at this time.
Testimonies from victims detailed how McLellan exploited his position as a tattooist to molest them.
Several teenage girls sought tattoos from him, including one who wanted a tribute to a deceased relative.
Instead of professional service, McLellan used these opportunities to sexually assault the victims and expose himself during tattoo sessions.
One victim, an 18-year-old, recounted how he pushed her hand onto his private parts while she was getting a tattoo.
Another girl described feeling “scared and embarrassed” after he made inappropriate contact with her breast.
Yet another victim testified that McLellan had placed his hands on her breasts and exposed himself, leading her to seek reasons to leave his house immediately afterward.
In a related case from July 2014, McLellan, then 44, was sentenced to five years in prison at the High Court in Aberdeen for similar offenses.
He had previously been convicted by Dundee Sheriff Court of 22 charges, including 12 counts of illegally tattooing underage girls and 10 sexual offenses.
Sheriff George Way had remitted the case to the High Court, citing the need for more severe sentencing powers, as McLellan was found to have been grooming young girls with the intent of further sexual activity.
Judge Lord Uist, in the 2014 sentencing, described McLellan as “a habitual and incorrigible offender,” emphasizing the danger he posed to young females.
The court noted that McLellan had previously served time in England in 2003 for two sexual assaults on young girls, and in 2006, he received a four-year sentence for similar offenses in Scotland.
At the time of his latest crimes, he was still on license from his 2006 sentence, which prohibited contact with minors.
Throughout the proceedings, McLellan denied all charges, despite evidence of degrading acts such as exposing himself, touching victims inappropriately, and tattooing underage girls.
The jury found him guilty of multiple charges, including sexual assaults, sexual activity with minors, and sexual communication with a teenager under 16.
The court also heard that he had previously served a three-year sentence in England and a four-year sentence in Scotland for related offenses.
Judge Lord Uist warned McLellan that he could face longer imprisonment and clarified that he would only be released when the parole board deemed him no longer a risk to the public.
McLellan was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, with his current sentence backdated to April 29, 2013, when he was first remanded in custody.
The court highlighted his prior employment history, which included service in the army, work as a riding instructor, and handyman jobs, but these details did little to mitigate the seriousness of his crimes.
In January 2013, McLellan was convicted of sexually assaulting teenage girls after grooming them through illegal tattooing.
One victim recounted how she met him via Facebook after asking if anyone did tattoos, leading her to his Dundee flat where he assaulted her.
Other victims described similar experiences, with McLellan exposing himself, touching them inappropriately, and attempting to sexually assault them.
His pattern of behavior demonstrated a disturbing combination of grooming, exploitation, and sexual violence against vulnerable young girls in Dundee.
