In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that then 20-year-old David MacFarlane was spared a prison sentence after grooming and having sex with a 13-year-old schoolgirl. Appearing at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, Ayrshire, the defendant—of Prestwick, South Ayrshire—admitted to the offence which took place on 17 November last year. It was reported that MacFarlane, who was 19 at the time, used the social media app Snapchat to lure the victim to Fairlie Train Station, North Ayrshire, before taking her into nearby woods.
The investigation established that MacFarlane travelled from his home in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, specifically to meet the child, knowing her age beforehand. Police Scotland reported that the distraught mother of the victim described the encounter as a calculated plan, noting that MacFarlane contacted her daughter two days later to terminate the relationship. The prosecution reported that the survivor was left feeling humiliated and naive after being sucked in by the defendant’s online grooming tactics in Largs, North Ayrshire.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that MacFarlane’s legal team claimed he suffered from a lack of consequential thinking and potentially fell on the autistic spectrum. Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, Ayrshire, heard that his family argued he did not fully appreciate the serious nature of his actions. The investigation established, however, that the victim’s mother strongly contested these claims, stating that the defendant was fully aware of the gravity of his crimes and would be laughing at the leniency of the court’s decision.
Sheriff Shirley Foran presided over the sentencing where the victim’s mother expressed total devastation at the outcome. For his actions in Fairlie, North Ayrshire, MacFarlane was given a one-year supervision order and placed on the sex offenders register. The judge noted the defence’s points regarding his mental condition, but the victim’s family maintained that the sentence was a mere slap on the wrist that failed to reflect the lasting damage done to the schoolgirl’s childhood.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in Scotland, the status of David MacFarlane as of late 2019 was as follows:
- Sentence: 1-year Supervision Order (Sentenced 2019).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active (Duration determined by the court).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, Ayrshire, following a Police Scotland investigation.
- Criminal Record: Sexual activity with a child; Online grooming.
- Origin: Prestwick, South Ayrshire (Offences in Fairlie, North Ayrshire).
Monitoring and Public Protection
MacFarlane is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) within the Ayrshire area. Due to the nature of his conduct in Fairlie, North Ayrshire, which involved using Snapchat to lure a 13-year-old girl to a remote wooded area, his management is a priority for local authorities. Authorities state that his history of using social media to target children requires consistent monitoring of his internet-enabled devices by Police Scotland to ensure he does not represent a continued danger to other youngsters.
As a registered sex offender, MacFarlane’s details are logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his behaviour in Ayrshire demonstrated a calculated effort to manipulate a minor. Any failure to comply with his notification requirements, any attempt to contact the victim, or any use of unmonitored social media applications to communicate with minors will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and to uphold the protection of the public from a confirmed predator.
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