WILLIAM MEEK, DUNDEE PAEDO, JAILED AFTER FAILED BAIL BREACHES AND CONFRONTATION AT SEAGATE BUS STATION
In May 2021, William Meek, a resident of Dundee, was sentenced to ten months in prison following a series of alarming breaches of bail conditions and a high-profile confrontation at Seagate bus station.The case drew significant attention from social workers, legal professionals, and community groups, highlighting the ongoing issues surrounding online predatory behavior and the challenges of monitoring offenders in the community.
William Meek, aged 48 and living on Polepark Road in Dundee, had previously been released into the community after being exposed by a paedophile hunter group.
The group had set up an elaborate sting operation, which revealed Meek attempting to meet a girl he believed to be 13 years old for sexual activity.
The incident was captured on video and later streamed online, causing widespread concern and media coverage.
During the confrontation, Meek was observed to be sweating profusely upon realizing he had been duped.
He was immediately taken to Ninewells Hospital with complaints of heart palpitations, a reaction believed to be caused by the stress of the situation.
Despite his medical emergency, police quickly arrested him, and he was subsequently charged with attempting to meet a child for sexual purposes, grooming, and breaching bail conditions.
It was revealed in court that Meek had been placed on the Sex Offenders Register and under supervision for three years following his previous guilty plea to charges of grooming and attempting to meet a child for sex.
As part of his supervision, he was subject to strict restrictions on his internet and social media use, designed to prevent further offending.
However, shortly after his release, he was found to have violated these conditions by possessing multiple electronic devices capable of internet access, and he attempted to hide a phone from police during a routine visit.
Earlier in July 2019, Meek had engaged in online conversations with a profile he believed belonged to a 13-year-old girl named Paige, created by Groom Resisters Scotland.
Using social media platforms such as Tagged and WhatsApp, he exchanged numerous messages, including explicit sexual propositions.
He expressed a desire to meet her at Seagate bus station, claiming he would bring condoms and suggesting they could have a “full-on relationship,” which he defined as involving sex and the possibility of making a baby.
Meek encouraged the girl to lie to her mother about her whereabouts, claiming she was staying with a friend, and discussed having sex with her, asserting that her mother would not find out.
When confronted by the vigilante group at the bus station, Meek initially denied any intention to meet a child but later admitted that he was there to meet someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl.
He also claimed to suffer from heart problems, which he said caused his sweating and palpitations.
Following the incident, police examined the chat logs and evidence provided by the group.
It was established that Meek had traveled to the bus station with the intent to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
He admitted to sending sexual messages between July 7 and July 14, 2019, and to traveling to the station on July 14 with the purpose of meeting a child.
In court, prosecutor Gavin Burton detailed how Meek’s online communications included explicit language and propositions, and how he was caught in the act of attempting to meet a minor.
The court also heard that Meek had been found in possession of electronic devices at his home and at an address in Cupar, which he was not authorized to have under his bail conditions.
Defending solicitor Douglas Thomson emphasized that since his client’s release from remand, Meek had maintained a period of good behavior and had been isolated from further offending.
Nevertheless, Sheriff Alistair Carmichael sentenced Meek to ten months in prison, citing the seriousness of his actions and the breach of community trust.
The sheriff also imposed a three-year community supervision order, including mental health treatment and restrictions on internet use, as well as placing Meek on the sex offenders register for three years.
In his remarks, Sheriff Carmichael underscored the gravity of Meek’s conduct, stating, “It’s very serious stuff.
All of what you did was very bad.
In these very unusual circumstances, I am going to go down the route of imposing a community payback order.” The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing risks posed by individuals with a history of offending and the importance of vigilant community and law enforcement efforts to protect vulnerable children.
