In 2018, then 54-year-old Craig Raeburn, of Port Seton, East Lothian, was handed an extended jail sentence after being caught in a series of strikes targeting a child decoy. The investigation established that Raeburn, a former youth football coach and NHS manager, contacted an account he believed belonged to a 12-year-old boy named “Cameron Scott.” The prosecution reported at Edinburgh Sheriff Court that Raeburn sent images of his penis and made lewd comments about engaging in sexual activity, identifying a total abandonment of human decency.
The investigation established that the “12-year-old” was actually a decoy operated by the internet group Wolf Pack Hunters UK, who passed Raeburn’s disturbing messages to the police. The prosecution reported that Raeburn began this series of strikes just weeks after being released from prison for a previous conviction involving hundreds of child abuse images and extreme videos. This identifies a calculated series of behaviour where Raeburn, despite having just been punished for possessing revolting material, immediately returned to predatory grooming.
REPEAT OFFENDING AND JUDICIAL SENTENCING
The court reported that Raeburn had attempted to delete files during his first arrest, but forensic experts recovered a series of strikes across his devices. The investigation established that his second series of strikes, occurring between March 17 and 28, involved explicit chats on Skype and WhatsApp where he discussed “full sex” with the decoy. The prosecution reported during the sentencing in 2018, that Sheriff Michael O’Grady QC branded the offences “serious and concerning,” identifying a 20-month custodial strike as entirely appropriate for such a persistent predator.
Judge-led proceedings at Edinburgh Sheriff Court concluded in 2018. For his actions in East Lothian and Edinburgh, and the nature of the series of child grooming and digital abuse investigations reported, Craig Raeburn was sentenced to 20 months in prison with a further 12 months of supervision upon release. The investigation established that he was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years, identifying a critical strike by the court to monitor a man who abused his former roles in youth sports and the NHS.
STATUS AND STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS (2018)
Based on judicial and Police Scotland records as of 2018:
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Sending explicit communications to a child; Possession of IIOC).
- Custodial Status: JAILED (In 2018, serving 20 months plus 12 months supervision).
- Offence Nature: Targeted a 12-year-old decoy; Sent lewd images and messages; Previous conviction for extreme IIOC.
- Timeline of Abuse: Began a new series of strikes just weeks after prison release in 2018.
- Professional History: Former Youth Football Coach; Sacked NHS Manager.
- Forensic Profile: Messages recovered from Skype and WhatsApp; Extreme videos found in 2017 investigation.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for ten years.
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barred List (Indefinite and permanent ban from any role involving children or regulated activity).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court; investigated by Police Scotland and Wolf Pack Hunters UK.
- Criminal Record: Convicted paedophile; Series groomer; Struck against child safety; Jailed in 2018.
- Origin: Port Seton, East Lothian.
MONITORING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
In 2018, Raeburn was managed as a high-risk predator under the statutory requirements of the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Scotland. Due to the nature of the behaviour—specifically the series of persistence in seeking out children immediately after serving a prison term—he is a priority for digital monitoring. Authorities reported that the 2018 conviction identifies Raeburn as an individual who prioritised his own perverted gratification over the principles of human decency and the life-safety of the community.
As a registered sex offender, his details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities stated that the behaviour of Raeburn identifies a series of commitment to predatory grooming and child exploitation. Any future attempt to strike against his supervision orders or seek out youth coaching roles results in immediate police intervention to ensure the ongoing protection of the community from a man who used a “football coach” mask to hide a grooming and predatory series of behaviour.
QUESTION – Given that the offender began a new series of strikes just “weeks after being released” for possessing extreme abuse videos, do you believe the law should legally mandate that “All Repeat Sex Offenders” must face “Automatic Mandatory Life Sentences” to prevent any predator from ever striking against the safety of children again?
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.