ROBERT STRACHAN FROM BANFF AND INVERURIE ABERDEENSHIRE JAILED FOR HIDING PHONE UNDER GARDEN SHED

In a serious case involving a known sex offender from Aberdeenshire, Robert Strachan, aged 46, has been sentenced to prison after authorities uncovered him hiding a mobile device beneath a garden shed. The incident took place in Inverurie, where police officers responded to reports of suspicious activity linked to the convicted offender.

Strachan appeared before Aberdeen Sheriff Court to face charges related to his concealment of a mobile phone, which he attempted to hide from law enforcement officials. During the hearing, he admitted to the court that he had deliberately concealed the device, which was found to contain applications such as Grindr and Snapchat—both of which he was explicitly prohibited from accessing due to a previous court order.

His prior conviction dates back to 2021, when he was sentenced for using Grindr to seek out and groom victims as young as 11 years old. Sheriff Craig Findlater emphasized the gravity of Strachan’s breach of court orders, stating that no other sentence would be appropriate given the circumstances. Consequently, Strachan was sentenced to more than two years in prison.

According to the prosecution, Strachan’s violations were compounded by his failure to comply with notification requirements mandated by law. Calum Gordon, the fiscal depute, explained that due to his criminal history, Strachan was under strict obligations not to access electronic devices or the internet without proper authorization. Despite being released from prison in October of the previous year, Strachan visited Inverurie Police Station multiple times to update his personal details. However, he did not disclose that he had purchased a new electronic device or registered new online accounts.

On November 18, neighbors observed Strachan behaving oddly near a garden shed. They noticed him placing an object underneath the shed and decided to investigate. Upon inspection, they discovered a mobile phone inside a clear plastic bag, along with a charger. Police were called to the scene, and officers later captured footage of Strachan approaching the shed and seemingly searching underneath it.

Further analysis of the phone revealed that Strachan had been actively using Snapchat since November 1 and Grindr since November 16. The devices contained usernames for both applications that had not been previously disclosed to authorities. The Snapchat account was used to send pictures and videos that self-destruct after being viewed, while Grindr is a dating app primarily used by gay men.

In court, Strachan pleaded guilty to two charges: failing to comply with the notification requirements of the sex offenders register and concealing the phone from police. His defense solicitor, Sam Milligan, acknowledged the seriousness of the case, stating, “There’s only one sentence the court will be looking upon. My client has been looking to resolve this case sooner rather than later and pled guilty as early as was possible.”

Sheriff Findlater underscored the importance of adhering to legal obligations for sex offenders and sentenced Strachan to 30 months in prison. The address listed for Strachan was HMP Grampian, reflecting his current detention status. The court’s decision highlights the ongoing efforts to monitor and enforce compliance among individuals with a history of sexual offenses, especially when they breach restrictions designed to protect the public.