On Wednesday, 7 January 2026, the Offender Database reported that Alexander “Sandy” Boyd, 56, was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow for the systematic grooming and rape of vulnerable girls. Boyd was a former social care officer at a residential unit for looked-after children in Oban, where he exploited his position of trust to abuse those under his care.
The court heard that Boyd’s offences took place between 1999 and 2001. He manipulated his victims under the guise of friendship, repeatedly failing to respect appropriate boundaries. This included buying mobile phone top-up cards to maintain secret contact and driving the children in his personal vehicle. Evidence provided by former colleagues and historic social work records corroborated the pattern of predatory behaviour. Tragically, one of the victims died before the trial, but her evidence was presented through a handwritten statement and a recorded police interview. Following a trial in November 2025, a jury found Boyd guilty of four charges, including rape and sexual assault.
Alexander Boyd was handed a 10-year extended sentence, which includes eight years in custody and two years on extended license. Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, condemned Boyd for exploiting vulnerable girls who should have been safe in his care. A survivor of his abuse shared a powerful message, stating that the “shame belongs only to the abuser” and that “silence is the only power they ever had.”
As a result of his convictions for child rape and serious sexual assault, Boyd has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely. He was also made subject to a Non-Harassment Order to prevent any future contact with those affected.
Upon his release, Boyd will be managed under the highest level of Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in the Oban and Argyll areas. This framework ensures that Police Scotland and social work services maintain permanent, intensive monitoring of his residency and movements to protect the public from further harm.
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