In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Brian Mulgrew, then 57, of Hareburn Avenue, Avonbridge, Stirlingshire, pled guilty to the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. On Wednesday, 5 June 2019, Mulgrew, a surveyor and secretary of the Avonbridge Community Hall management committee, appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court, where his predatory behaviour was exposed through the hall’s own security footage.
The investigation established that between 25 May and 26 May 2018, Mulgrew provided the victim and her friends with alcoholic beverages, including Dragon Soop and cider. The prosecution reported that after dropping the girl’s boyfriend home, Mulgrew began quizzing the child about sex. He then drove her to the community centre on Blackstone Road, Avonbridge, where he pulled down her clothing and sexually assaulted her. The girl froze in shock as she was trapped in the passenger seat by her seatbelt, eventually calling him a “creep and a paedo” to make him stop.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Sheriff William Gilchrist emphasised that a custodial sentence was “more than likely” given the nature of the abuse and Mulgrew’s previous conviction for a sexual offence in 1989. The court reported that Mulgrew attempted to cover his tracks by lying to detectives eight times, claiming he had never visited the hall and that the CCTV system was broken. However, officers emphasised that the working cameras had recorded his vehicle entering the car park during the incident.
The prosecution emphasised that Mulgrew had objectified the child during police interviews, making remarks about her physical appearance. Cheryl Clark, prosecuting, emphasised that the victim had initially trusted the defendant because of his position of responsibility within the village. For his crimes in Avonbridge, the court determined that the defendant’s breach of trust as a village hall official necessitated judicial intervention.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
Following his guilty plea for his crimes in Scotland, Brian Mulgrew was subject to:
- Status: Convicted and awaiting sentencing on 3 July 2019 (Bail continued for reports).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated immediately upon his plea.
- Convictions: Pled guilty to sexual assault, making sexual remarks to a child, and providing alcohol to a minor.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Mulgrew is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the Forth Valley Division of Police Scotland. Due to the nature of his grooming tactics and his history of sexual offending, his management is under the highest level of scrutiny by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Mulgrew must comply with mandatory notification requirements regarding his residence in Hareburn Avenue, Avonbridge, Stirlingshire. Authorities state that his misuse of his role at the community hall necessitates strict oversight to ensure he has no further contact with children. Any breach of his registration conditions or future licence terms will result in his immediate arrest and return to Stirling Sheriff Court.
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