Man jailed for Plymouth teen sex abuse

He'd travelled from Aberdeen

A man who travelled from Scotland to groom and sexually assault a teenage girl in Devon has been jailed for nine years.

Craig McKay, 56, from the Aberdeen area pleaded guilty at Exeter Crown Court to 14 charges including engaging in sexual communication with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and taking indecent images of a child.

McKay was given a 10 year sentence by Judge David Evans at Exeter Crown Court, consisting of nine years in prison and a further year on extended licence. McKay was also made subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and an indefinite restraining order preventing him contacting the victim. 

McKay met her on Tumblr when she was 14, and over a period of time he groomed her, making her believe he loved her and promising he’d look after her.

He sent her money and extravagant gifts and travelled to Plymouth several times where he committed sexual offences against the victim in his car.

The abuse continued over a number of years until the victim ended all contact with the suspect after realising and understanding that she was a victim of sexual abuse.

Once contact had ended McKay continued to send the victim messages, letters and gifts and tired to see her in Plymouth. At this point the police were contacted and a joint investigation with Police Scotland began.

Following sentencing, Devon and Cornwall Police Inspector Christopher Kinski said: “I want to praise the victim in this case for showing the strength and bravery to come forward and disclose the abuse she had suffered.

“McKay is a calculated predator who preyed on the victim’s age to fulfil his sexual desires on a child. I have no doubt that if it wasn’t for the victim having the strength to tell us her story, McKay would have offended again on many more children."

He continued: “I have no doubt the abuse will be with the victim forever, however we hope that this sentence given out today can help provide some sense of closure and can move on with her life.

“I would urge anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse not to suffer in silence and if you are ready to come forward, we are here to listen and investigate your case. As this case shows, you will be believed and supported and together we will hold offenders to account for their crimes."