PAUL SCALLY OF LOCHGELLY CAUGHT IN FIFE CHILD ABUSE SCANDAL AND DOWNLOADS HORRIFIC FILES

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Lochgelly and the wider Fife region, Paul Scally, aged 45, has been found guilty of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young children and the possession of indecent images. The case, which spans over several years, highlights the disturbing pattern of behavior exhibited by Scally, a man with a long history of sexual offences against minors.

Back in March 2015, Scally was convicted of abusing two young girls, aged five and nine, who were daughters of a close family friend. The abuse involved coercing the girls to pose for explicit images, a crime that was uncovered after one of the victims disclosed the systematic nature of the abuse. The girls, who had been under Scally’s care as a babysitter, were manipulated through treats and trips, which he used to groom them for his sinister purposes.

The police investigation was triggered when one of the girls confided in her family about the abuse. The following day, authorities raided Scally’s residence in Lochgelly and discovered incriminating evidence, including a pair of one girl’s pants found in his home and numerous indecent images of both girls stored on his computer. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Scally denied all allegations, forcing the victims and their families to endure the trauma of testifying in court. The girls’ father expressed his relief that justice was finally served, describing the case as a long time coming. He also revealed that one of his daughters continues to suffer from nightmares related to the abuse.

During the trial at Dundee Sheriff Court, prosecutor Eilidh Robertson painted a stark picture of Scally’s manipulative nature and his abuse of trust. She emphasized that he had a clear sexual interest in young girls and suggested that his claims of taking the girls places out of kindness were merely a cover for his sinister intentions. The evidence presented included the discovery of the girls’ images on his hard drive and the pants found in his home shortly after the victims disclosed the abuse. Robertson pointed out the improbability of Scally’s defense, stating that the coincidences—such as the timing of the evidence—strongly indicated his guilt.

Scally, who hails from Southfield Avenue, Lochgelly, faced charges of possessing indecent images of children and creating such images. After a jury deliberated for just under two hours, he was found guilty on all counts. The offences took place between March 2009 and October 2012 at various addresses in Lochgelly and Cardenden. In court, Scally, who had initially represented himself after legal counsel withdrew, admitted to taking responsibility for his actions and expressed a desire to seek medical help, requesting a community payback order or a fine along with anger management.

Sheriff Elizabeth Munro sentenced him to two years in prison, with an additional three-year extended sentence to monitor his conduct upon release. She emphasized the seriousness of the case, describing it as a deliberate grooming exercise, and highlighted the importance of custodial measures to protect the public. The victims’ family expressed their relief, acknowledging the long journey to justice and the ongoing trauma faced by the girls, especially one who still endures nightmares.

Further disturbing developments emerged in January 2015, when Scally was again implicated in the possession and creation of child abuse images. It was revealed that he had befriended two young girls, aged five and nine, through manipulative tactics involving treats and trips, before coercing them into posing for horrific images. The police investigation uncovered a pair of the girl’s pants in his home and numerous indecent images on his computer. Despite denying the charges at first, a jury in Lochgelly took only an hour and 45 minutes to convict him of all allegations, which spanned from 2009 to 2012.

In the latest chapter of his criminal history, Scally’s depravity was further exposed when, in August 2024, police executed a search warrant at his residence in Newburgh. The search yielded two hard drives and a laptop, containing a total of 24 video files with a runtime exceeding five and a half hours. These videos depicted girls as young as four being sexually abused. Prosecutor Joanne Ritchie described Scally as a “hardened” offender, noting that he had only been released from prison in July 2023 and was already engaging in further illegal activity. The evidence demonstrated a clear pattern of ongoing offending, with police seizing the devices during the search on August 29, 2024.

Scally admitted to possessing and making indecent images of children between November 2023 and August 2024. His solicitor, Calum Harris, acknowledged his client’s prior criminal record and the relatively low number of images found, but emphasized that Scally had spent a significant amount of time in custody. Sheriff Gregor Murray responded by sentencing him to 20 months in prison, with a five-year registration on the sex offenders register and a requirement for post-release supervision for one year. The sheriff also backdated the sentence to September 2024, reflecting the seriousness of his repeated offending and the need for ongoing monitoring to prevent further harm.