RORY GILL FROM TARLAND SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUTUBE AND SOCIAL MEDIA
| Red Rose Database
Tarland Child Sexual Abuser
In November 2018, Rory Gill, a 30-year-old man from Tarland, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison after a series of disturbing sexual offences involving minors. Gill had engaged in a pattern of predatory behavior online, where he impersonated a teenage girl to manipulate young boys into performing sexually explicit acts. His actions included promising to help them gain more YouTube subscribers in exchange for obscene videos, a tactic he used to lure and exploit vulnerable children.
Authorities uncovered a significant cache of illegal material on Gill’s computers, which contained nearly two days’ worth of child abuse videos, totaling approximately 43 hours and 25 minutes of footage. The police investigation was initiated after a YouTube moderator flagged Gill’s suspicious activity, prompting a search warrant for his residence on Burnside Road, Tarland. During the search, officers seized computer equipment and discovered 462 indecent videos of children, some of which were classified as the most severe Category A content.
Sheriff William Summers condemned Gill’s actions, emphasizing the gravity of his impersonation of a girl and the manipulation of young boys into performing sexual acts on themselves and others. The sheriff described some of the acts as “utterly depraved,” underscoring the disturbing nature of the offences. Gill pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including acting as a female to communicate sexually with minors, some as young as under 13, and requesting them to perform various sexual acts. These offences spanned from January 17, 2017, to November 12, 2017.
In addition to the online communications, Gill admitted to taking or allowing the taking of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, as well as distributing or displaying such images. The police investigation revealed that Gill used social media platforms, including YouTube and Omegle, to engage with boys in a sexual manner, send pornographic images, and coerce them into participating in dares or challenges of a sexual nature. Some of these challenges involved removing clothing, dancing naked, or performing sexual acts, with Gill promising to show more explicit images or help increase their YouTube followers in return.
During sentencing, Sheriff Summers highlighted the seriousness of the offences, stating, “It is quite clear, given the gravity of these offences that the only appropriate disposal in this case is the imposition of a period of imprisonment.” Gill was sentenced to three years and nine months behind bars. Furthermore, he was placed under a sexual offences prevention order for five years and was made subject to an indefinite sex offenders’ register. Gill’s defense acknowledged his guilty plea and lack of prior convictions, with his lawyer, Liam McAllister, noting that Gill had taken full responsibility and that there were underlying personal and family issues to be explored in a social work report.
As the case concluded, Sheriff Summers made it clear that Gill’s actions warranted a custodial sentence, emphasizing the almost unimaginable nature of his crimes and the need for justice to be served. Gill’s sentencing marked a significant step in addressing the exploitation of minors through online platforms, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by online predators operating in the North-east region, including Tarland.
Authorities uncovered a significant cache of illegal material on Gill’s computers, which contained nearly two days’ worth of child abuse videos, totaling approximately 43 hours and 25 minutes of footage. The police investigation was initiated after a YouTube moderator flagged Gill’s suspicious activity, prompting a search warrant for his residence on Burnside Road, Tarland. During the search, officers seized computer equipment and discovered 462 indecent videos of children, some of which were classified as the most severe Category A content.
Sheriff William Summers condemned Gill’s actions, emphasizing the gravity of his impersonation of a girl and the manipulation of young boys into performing sexual acts on themselves and others. The sheriff described some of the acts as “utterly depraved,” underscoring the disturbing nature of the offences. Gill pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including acting as a female to communicate sexually with minors, some as young as under 13, and requesting them to perform various sexual acts. These offences spanned from January 17, 2017, to November 12, 2017.
In addition to the online communications, Gill admitted to taking or allowing the taking of indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, as well as distributing or displaying such images. The police investigation revealed that Gill used social media platforms, including YouTube and Omegle, to engage with boys in a sexual manner, send pornographic images, and coerce them into participating in dares or challenges of a sexual nature. Some of these challenges involved removing clothing, dancing naked, or performing sexual acts, with Gill promising to show more explicit images or help increase their YouTube followers in return.
During sentencing, Sheriff Summers highlighted the seriousness of the offences, stating, “It is quite clear, given the gravity of these offences that the only appropriate disposal in this case is the imposition of a period of imprisonment.” Gill was sentenced to three years and nine months behind bars. Furthermore, he was placed under a sexual offences prevention order for five years and was made subject to an indefinite sex offenders’ register. Gill’s defense acknowledged his guilty plea and lack of prior convictions, with his lawyer, Liam McAllister, noting that Gill had taken full responsibility and that there were underlying personal and family issues to be explored in a social work report.
As the case concluded, Sheriff Summers made it clear that Gill’s actions warranted a custodial sentence, emphasizing the almost unimaginable nature of his crimes and the need for justice to be served. Gill’s sentencing marked a significant step in addressing the exploitation of minors through online platforms, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by online predators operating in the North-east region, including Tarland.