A Blairgowrie man, Connor Mackay, aged 30, has been handed a community-based sentence at Perth Sheriff Court after being found guilty of serious online child exploitation offences. Despite the gravity of his crimes, which involved interacting with individuals he believed to be young children online, psychological assessments presented to the court indicated he does not possess a deep-seated ‘fixation’ on children.
Mackay engaged in disturbing online exchanges, believing he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl. During these interactions, he solicited degrading acts, transmitted a photograph of his own anatomy, requested explicit images of her (suggesting the use of a mirror), and sent additional pornographic content. He further extended these inappropriate communications to a second decoy account, also posing as a 12-year-old girl, operated by the same online vigilance group. A third similar engagement occurred with a separate, distinct online child protection team.
His illicit activities came to light when members of an online child protection team confronted him directly at his Rattray residence, an encounter which they subsequently broadcast on social media. This confrontation led to a police raid on his home, where a MacBook laptop and three USB drives were confiscated. A subsequent examination of these devices uncovered a disturbing collection of child abuse material and bestiality images. Court Proceedings and Sentencing Rationale
During the court proceedings at Perth Sheriff Court, Sheriff Peter Hammond acknowledged the severe nature of Mackay’s admitted offences. However, he noted that a comprehensive assessment by the social work department had explored various sentencing alternatives to imprisonment. The court was informed that specialist programmes were available to address Mackay’s specific issues, leading the Sheriff to conclude that a non-custodial sentence was appropriate in this particular case.
Mackay received a three-year supervision order, which includes stringent restrictions on his internet access designed to prevent further online misconduct. He was also mandated to complete 150 hours of unpaid work within the community and will remain on the sex offenders register for a period of three years. Underlying Issues, Not Fixation
Representing Mackay, defence lawyer Steve Lafferty highlighted his client’s vulnerability at the time of the offences, describing him as isolated and detached from his family. Mr. Lafferty also referenced a lengthy handwritten letter from Mackay, in which he expressed remorse, acknowledged his culpability, and demonstrated a degree of insight into his actions. The defence emphasised that psychological evaluations indicated Mackay’s difficulties stemmed from a ‘thought disorder’ and a profound sense of ‘loneliness’, rather than a direct sexual attraction to children.
The Sheriff concurred with the psychological findings, noting that Mackay’s underlying challenges were attributed to a ‘lack of maturity and social awareness,’ rather than a genuine ‘fixation’ on youngsters. This distinction played a pivotal role in the court’s decision regarding his sentence. The outcome underscores the complex nature of such cases, where judicial decisions are informed not only by the severity of the crime but also by expert assessments of an offender’s psychological profile and the potential for rehabilitation through structured intervention programmes.
For the residents of Perth and Kinross, particularly those in areas like Blairgowrie and Rattray, this case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance in online spaces and the collaborative efforts between law enforcement and community groups to address internet-related exploitation. The legal system, as demonstrated here, aims to balance punitive measures with rehabilitative strategies, particularly when complex psychological factors are identified as contributing to an individual’s offending behaviour.
Mackay engaged in disturbing online exchanges, believing he was communicating with a 12-year-old girl. During these interactions, he solicited degrading acts, transmitted a photograph of his own anatomy, requested explicit images of her (suggesting the use of a mirror), and sent additional pornographic content. He further extended these inappropriate communications to a second decoy account, also posing as a 12-year-old girl, operated by the same online vigilance group. A third similar engagement occurred with a separate, distinct online child protection team.
His illicit activities came to light when members of an online child protection team confronted him directly at his Rattray residence, an encounter which they subsequently broadcast on social media. This confrontation led to a police raid on his home, where a MacBook laptop and three USB drives were confiscated. A subsequent examination of these devices uncovered a disturbing collection of child abuse material and bestiality images. Court Proceedings and Sentencing Rationale
During the court proceedings at Perth Sheriff Court, Sheriff Peter Hammond acknowledged the severe nature of Mackay’s admitted offences. However, he noted that a comprehensive assessment by the social work department had explored various sentencing alternatives to imprisonment. The court was informed that specialist programmes were available to address Mackay’s specific issues, leading the Sheriff to conclude that a non-custodial sentence was appropriate in this particular case.
Mackay received a three-year supervision order, which includes stringent restrictions on his internet access designed to prevent further online misconduct. He was also mandated to complete 150 hours of unpaid work within the community and will remain on the sex offenders register for a period of three years. Underlying Issues, Not Fixation
Representing Mackay, defence lawyer Steve Lafferty highlighted his client’s vulnerability at the time of the offences, describing him as isolated and detached from his family. Mr. Lafferty also referenced a lengthy handwritten letter from Mackay, in which he expressed remorse, acknowledged his culpability, and demonstrated a degree of insight into his actions. The defence emphasised that psychological evaluations indicated Mackay’s difficulties stemmed from a ‘thought disorder’ and a profound sense of ‘loneliness’, rather than a direct sexual attraction to children.
The Sheriff concurred with the psychological findings, noting that Mackay’s underlying challenges were attributed to a ‘lack of maturity and social awareness,’ rather than a genuine ‘fixation’ on youngsters. This distinction played a pivotal role in the court’s decision regarding his sentence. The outcome underscores the complex nature of such cases, where judicial decisions are informed not only by the severity of the crime but also by expert assessments of an offender’s psychological profile and the potential for rehabilitation through structured intervention programmes.
For the residents of Perth and Kinross, particularly those in areas like Blairgowrie and Rattray, this case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance in online spaces and the collaborative efforts between law enforcement and community groups to address internet-related exploitation. The legal system, as demonstrated here, aims to balance punitive measures with rehabilitative strategies, particularly when complex psychological factors are identified as contributing to an individual’s offending behaviour.