Glasgow Soft Play Boss Jailed in US for 25 Years Over Child Abuse Images

Steven Paul McInally, aged 36, was sentenced to 25 years in a US federal prison after being found with thousands of child abuse images on his mobile phone. He was detained at Orlando International Airport while arriving for a holiday in August 2023, after border guards discovered material that included images taken during a sleepover at his home. A forensic examination revealed approximately 3,900 images and 70 videos depicting child sexual abuse. During court proceedings in November, McInally admitted to transporting and possessing child abuse material. His sentencing was finalized last week by district judge Wendy D Berger. It is known that McInally was formerly a director of the now-closed World of Mascots and was the owner of the Go Wild soft play centre located in Bridgeton, Glasgow. Following his arrest in the US, police in Glasgow conducted a raid on the soft play premises, and a report was forwarded to the procurator fiscal concerning alleged offences under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009. The US Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative, launched in 2005 to tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse, was involved in the case. The initiative brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate, arrest, and prosecute individuals exploiting children and to rescue victims.