SCOTT MURRAY AND HIS SHOCKING PREDATOR ACTS IN INVERNESS AND AVIEMORE
A well-known serial child sex offender from Inverness has been sentenced to prison after deliberately loitering around a swimming pool in the Highland town of Aviemore.Scott Murray, aged 36, was caught in the act while attempting to access the leisure facilities of the Macdonald Spey Valley Resort, also known as Dalfaber Golf and Country Club.
According to court reports, Murray falsely claimed to staff members that he needed to charge his mobile phone and electronic cigarette.
Despite this supposed reason, he ended up remaining in the hotel's reception area for approximately two hours while his devices were charging.
During this period, he was observed looking through a glass window at the pool area, raising suspicions about his intentions.
Further investigation revealed that Murray had also propped open a window in the toilets of the leisure centre, indicating possible attempts to access the pool or the premises in an unauthorized manner.
His presence at the location was further problematic given his criminal history.
Murray has previously served an 18-month jail sentence for possessing highly graphic videos involving children aged between one and three years old.
In this material, 99 out of the total collection of videos were categorized as extremely depraved, court records revealed.
He is subject to a strict Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) issued at Inverness on July 20, 2015, which explicitly prohibits him from entering swimming pools, leisure centres, or similar facilities without police permission.
Additionally, Murray's criminal record includes an early release from a 21-month sentence in March 2017 after he was convicted of peering at boys in a leisure centre.
Despite these restrictions, Murray appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court to face charges related to his recent actions.
He pleaded guilty to breaching the court order by unlawfully entering the Aviemore hotel's leisure centre and was also convicted of threatening and abusive behavior within the premises on March 14 of the same year.
Witnesses described him as shouting, swearing, muttering incoherent phrases, laughing uncontrollably, and making threats while in the lobby area.
At one point, he was heard yelling about aliens and uttering other random statements.
Fiscal depute Susan Love highlighted that Murray is a registered sex offender who must get police approval prior to attending places such as swimming pools.
On the day in question, around 4 pm, staff at the Dalfaber Golf and Country Club recognized him at the front entrance.
He claimed he needed to charge his phone and vape, a request that raised suspicion.
Court proceedings detailed that Murray was observed making various remarks about 'my head,' 'aliens,' and 'planets' as he approached the glass door leading to the pool area.
Staff subsequently saw him using the toilets multiple times after providing him with a charging device.
Upon his departure, staff discovered a window in the toilet area had been left open.
His solicitor, William Young, argued that Murray’s intentions were innocent, claiming he simply wanted to go swimming in Aviemore that day.
Mr.
Young noted that Murray had realized he needed to charge his devices and emphasized that he would have needed to make arrangements or be a registered guest to access the facilities legitimately.
The lawyer pointed out that there were no swimmers present at the time, implying no harm was done.
However, Sheriff Robert Frazer was clear in his judgment, citing Murray’s lengthy criminal history as a significant factor.
He stated that only a custodial sentence was appropriate given the circumstances.
The sheriff emphasized that this was Murray’s twelfth conviction under the relevant section of the Sexual Offences Act and that his repeated offending demonstrated an inability to desist, rendering him a danger to the public.
As a result, Scott Murray was sentenced to 20 months in prison, underscoring the serious concern authorities have regarding his ongoing risk to community safety.
