THOMAS GRAY FROM PORT GLASGOW CONVICTED OF ABUSE IN HORRIFIC CASE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Port Glasgow, Thomas Gray, a man with a long history of criminal behavior, has been found guilty of a series of heinous crimes committed against his stepchildren over a span of more than a decade. The victims, Charles Buntine and Julie McKinlay, courageously came forward to share their traumatic experiences, revealing a pattern of abuse that began when they were just children.

Gray, who is 55 years old, subjected Charles and Julie to repeated sexual assaults at various addresses on Moray Road and Arran Avenue in Port Glasgow. The abuse started when Charles was only three years old and Julie was ten, continuing until 1997. The siblings described Gray as a 'monstrous' figure who inflicted not only sexual violence but also physical abuse, including punching, kicking, and even striking Charles with a roller skate. The emotional scars of these acts have left deep wounds that are still raw for both victims.

Julie, now aged 38, and Charles, aged 34, chose to waive their right to anonymity to ensure that Gray’s crimes are fully exposed. Julie expressed her relief at the verdict, stating, “Thomas Alan Loughrey Gray has ruined my life, but to know that I am believed and that he has finally been exposed is a relief — although I still feel numb. I’ve had to live with this on my own for so many years, but justice is being served at long last. I just hope that when he is sentenced it reflects what he did, because he has taken mine and Charles’s lives.”

Gray’s criminal history includes a previous conviction in 2015 for downloading indecent images of children, which led to his placement on the Sex Offenders Register. Despite this, authorities only gathered enough evidence to charge him with the abuse of Charles, Julie, and another female victim after further investigations. Julie first reported Gray’s misconduct in 1998, breaking down in tears and confiding in a friend after years of internal torment. At that time, her allegations were met with skepticism, as it was her word against his.

However, subsequent evidence, including Gray’s conviction for child pornography, prompted Charles and the other woman to come forward and reveal the full extent of their suffering. The court heard that Gray indecently assaulted Charles by touching his private parts and subjected him to serious sexual abuse between 1986 and 1988, when Charles was between three and five years old. The abuse was compounded by physical violence, with Gray locking Charles in rooms, shouting, swearing, and physically assaulting him with punches, kicks, and the roller skate.

Julie’s ordeal was equally harrowing. She recounted how Gray forced her to lower her underwear, touched her intimately, and attempted to coerce her into touching him. She was also raped while sleeping and was subjected to repeated physical assaults, including punches and kicks to her head and body. Gray’s abuse extended to dragging her downstairs by her hair. These acts occurred on multiple occasions between 1989 and 1998, with additional sexual assault on a female victim at Gray’s Arran Avenue residence in August 1996.

Julie expressed her feelings about finally speaking out, saying, “I have lived anonymously with people doubting me for so long. It’s time to stand up. I don’t know how I feel at the moment because it’s something that maybe hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s still raw.”

Charles, who has struggled with substance abuse as a result of his trauma, shared that he entered rehab as he prepared to testify against Gray. He revealed that he has been sober for nine weeks and described the court case as a turning point in his life. “I turned to drink and drugs and just tried to block it all out but this case has been a turning point for me, and I have the support of my sister and other family. The court case has helped me because I didn’t want to go and give evidence drunk. I was determined to see justice done,” he said.

When asked about Gray, Charles responded with contempt, stating, “He is nothing but a filthy beast, and now everyone can see him for what he is.” Julie added, “Thomas Gray is a monster. He is vile. I don’t think there is a word to describe him properly.” She also urged others who have experienced similar trauma to come forward, saying, “For anyone else out there who went through this kind of thing or has been hurt I would advise them to speak up and go to the police.”

Special praise was given to Detective Constable Kenneth Campbell of Police Scotland’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, who was instrumental in supporting the victims and guiding the investigation. Julie expressed her gratitude, saying, “He has been amazing. He was the one who I told it all to in 1998 and he has been with us all the way and seen this right through and got us our justice in the end. To have to go over it all again in court and tell all those people was horrible, but DC Campbell has been a tower of strength.”

Gray, represented by defence lawyer Derek Buchanan of Westcourts Litigation, remains in custody on remand. He is scheduled to be sentenced later this month for his crimes. Julie expressed relief at his incarceration, stating, “It’s a weight off my mind to know that he’s behind bars because I know now that he can’t hurt anyone else.”