In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that Thomas McCrory, then 77, of Birch Way, Renfrew, Renfrewshire, avoided a prison sentence for the sexual assault of a young girl. On appearing at Paisley Sheriff Court for sentencing, it was reported that McCrory had crept into the victim’s bed and molested her while she was asleep. The court reported that the “vile” and “vicious” attack occurred in 2017 after the defendant returned drunk from a pub, took a photograph of the sleeping girl, and began groping her under her pyjamas.
The investigation established that the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, managed to flee the flat while McCrory simply rolled over and went to sleep. Police Scotland reported that the defendant refused to confess, subjecting the “defenceless” girl and her family to the “abhorrent” trauma of a trial. The prosecution reported that the victim was so devastated by the “predatory” assault that she attempted to take her own life in the aftermath of the abuse in Renfrew, Renfrewshire.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that McCrory claimed the victim had made up the crimes in a bid for attention, a “vicious” defense that was rejected by the jury. Paisley Sheriff Court heard how the defendant’s family acted as “cheerleaders” in the public gallery, further distressing the victim’s mother. The prosecution reported that despite the “vile” nature of the offence and the lifelong damage caused, the judge cited McCrory’s age and lack of previous convictions as reasons to spare him from the 12-month maximum prison term in Renfrew, Renfrewshire.
Sheriff David Pender noted that while the case was “very anxious,” he did not believe a custodial sentence was in the public interest. For his actions in Renfrew, Renfrewshire, McCrory was placed under supervision for three years and ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work within 12 months. The judge noted that the defendant must also pay the victim £1,000 in compensation and sign the sex offenders register, with a strict ban on any unsupervised contact with children.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Scotland, Thomas McCrory was handed:
- Supervision: Three years of mandatory supervision.
- Unpaid Work: 300 hours to be completed within 12 months.
- Compensation: Ordered to pay the victim £1,000.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated.
- Child Contact Ban: Banned from any unsupervised contact with any child.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Paisley Sheriff Court following a trial conviction.
- Origin: Birch Way, Renfrew, Renfrewshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
McCrory is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Police Scotland and the National Probation Service. Due to the “predatory and intoxicated” nature of his assault in Renfrew, Renfrewshire, his conduct and living arrangements—particularly his proximity to a primary school—are subject to high-level oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, McCrory must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence for the duration of his order. Authorities state that his history of “viciously” targeting a child in her sleep necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct. Any breach of his supervision terms, unauthorized contact with children, or further sexual misconduct in Renfrew, Paisley, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for a custodial term of incarceration.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on reporting a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.