In 2021, the Offender Database reported that Stuart MacKay, then 27, of Artlaw Crescent, Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, avoided a prison sentence despite a “serious” history of sexual offending. On 25 January 2021, MacKay appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court after being caught in an online sting by vigilante groups.
The investigation established that between August and September 2019, MacKay sent “vile” messages to decoys posing as 12 and 13-year-old girls. Even after being told the children’s ages, he called them “cute” and “beautiful,” and sent “abhorrent” messages referencing bestiality and “naughty things.” Following a confrontation by activists that was streamed live, Police Scotland raided his home and discovered Category B and C indecent images of children, extreme pornography, and Google searches relating to rape.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that MacKay was already on the sex offenders’ programme for a “similar” offence committed around the same time. Fiscal depute Colin Neilson emphasised that the devices seized from Mintlaw contained over 20 minutes of “vicious” bestiality footage and evidence of a “depraved” interest in sexual violence. Despite the “serious” nature of the charges, MacKay pleaded guilty to five counts, including attempting to communicate indecently with children.
The defence emphasised that MacKay was already undertaking the Moving Forward, Making Changes programme, which was said to be providing “great benefit” in protecting the community. Sheriff Philip Mann noted that MacKay had shown remorse and addressed his cannabis use. The judge emphasised that because he had not reoffended while under supervision for his previous conviction, a non-custodial sentence was appropriate to allow his rehabilitation to continue.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, Stuart MacKay was handed:
- Supervision Order: 18 months of mandatory supervision.
- Unpaid Work: 120 hours of community service.
- Curfew: A four-and-a-half-month restriction on his movements.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for five years.
- Convictions: Admitted attempting to communicate indecently with a child and possession of indecent and extreme pornographic images.
Monitoring and Public Protection
MacKay is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Police Scotland. His history of “persistent” grooming and the possession of “vile” extreme material means his status remains under “stringent” scrutiny by authorities in Aberdeenshire.
As a registered sex offender, MacKay must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Mintlaw. Authorities state that his engagement with the Moving Forward, Making Changes programme is “critical” for managing his risk to the public. Any breach of his supervision order, his curfew, or his registration conditions will result in his immediate return to Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
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