FORFAR MAN STEWART SAMSON BANNED FROM OUTSIDE ANGUS AFTER PLOTTING TO MEET 13-YEAR-OLD BORDER GIRL
| Red Rose Database
Forfar Child Sexual Abuser
In December 2018, Stewart Samson, a resident of Forfar, found himself at the center of a serious criminal case involving the attempted exploitation of a minor. The case unfolded after police investigations revealed that Samson had traveled from his home in Forfar to the Scottish Borders with the intent of meeting a 13-year-old girl for unlawful sexual activity. The incident highlighted the dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilant law enforcement efforts to protect vulnerable minors.
Samson, aged 49 at the time, was identified as a father of a nine-year-old daughter and was known to have a partner. Despite his personal circumstances, he engaged in conversations with the young girl through social media, initially believing she was 16 years old. During these exchanges, he expressed a clear sexual interest in her, which raised immediate concerns for authorities. The girl, who was described as young-looking for her age and extremely shy, initially told Samson she was 16, but her true age was later confirmed to be 13 at the time of the incident last November.
The court heard that Samson made arrangements to meet the girl, even traveling more than 100 miles from his residence in Forfar to the Borders region, including Galashiels and Selkirk. Despite being spotted on CCTV footage in these locations, the planned meeting did not occur. The girl’s mother, after examining her daughter’s phone and discovering the conversations, contacted the police, which led to Samson’s arrest. When police officers arrived at his home in Sir James Duncan Gardens, Forfar, in early January, Samson was taken into custody. During his journey to Dundee police headquarters, he dismissed the allegations, claiming, “It’s a load of rubbish. She said she was 16.”
Samson was charged with multiple offenses, including communicating with a girl under 16, making arrangements to meet her with the intent of engaging in unlawful sexual activity, and attempting to meet her. He pleaded guilty to these charges, which contravened the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005, a law that carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison. The court was informed that Samson had no prior criminal record but had lost his job as a result of this incident.
In sentencing, Sheriff David Clapham emphasized the seriousness of the offense but also took into account the steps taken to rehabilitate Samson. The court ordered him to complete 120 hours of unpaid work under a three-year Community Payback Order. Additionally, Samson was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with individuals under 18 and was mandated to participate in the Tay Project, a program designed for sex offenders. Furthermore, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of three years, and any travel outside Angus required prior approval from supervising officers. These measures aimed to prevent any future offenses and ensure ongoing monitoring of Samson’s conduct.
Overall, the case underscored the ongoing threat posed by online predators and the importance of law enforcement vigilance in safeguarding minors. The community and authorities alike remain committed to protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and ensuring that offenders are held accountable for their actions.
Samson, aged 49 at the time, was identified as a father of a nine-year-old daughter and was known to have a partner. Despite his personal circumstances, he engaged in conversations with the young girl through social media, initially believing she was 16 years old. During these exchanges, he expressed a clear sexual interest in her, which raised immediate concerns for authorities. The girl, who was described as young-looking for her age and extremely shy, initially told Samson she was 16, but her true age was later confirmed to be 13 at the time of the incident last November.
The court heard that Samson made arrangements to meet the girl, even traveling more than 100 miles from his residence in Forfar to the Borders region, including Galashiels and Selkirk. Despite being spotted on CCTV footage in these locations, the planned meeting did not occur. The girl’s mother, after examining her daughter’s phone and discovering the conversations, contacted the police, which led to Samson’s arrest. When police officers arrived at his home in Sir James Duncan Gardens, Forfar, in early January, Samson was taken into custody. During his journey to Dundee police headquarters, he dismissed the allegations, claiming, “It’s a load of rubbish. She said she was 16.”
Samson was charged with multiple offenses, including communicating with a girl under 16, making arrangements to meet her with the intent of engaging in unlawful sexual activity, and attempting to meet her. He pleaded guilty to these charges, which contravened the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005, a law that carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison. The court was informed that Samson had no prior criminal record but had lost his job as a result of this incident.
In sentencing, Sheriff David Clapham emphasized the seriousness of the offense but also took into account the steps taken to rehabilitate Samson. The court ordered him to complete 120 hours of unpaid work under a three-year Community Payback Order. Additionally, Samson was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with individuals under 18 and was mandated to participate in the Tay Project, a program designed for sex offenders. Furthermore, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a period of three years, and any travel outside Angus required prior approval from supervising officers. These measures aimed to prevent any future offenses and ensure ongoing monitoring of Samson’s conduct.
Overall, the case underscored the ongoing threat posed by online predators and the importance of law enforcement vigilance in safeguarding minors. The community and authorities alike remain committed to protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and ensuring that offenders are held accountable for their actions.