A predator who answered “I’m a paedophile” when questioned about sexually abusing a child has been jailed.
Angus McDonald, 63, carried out a string of attacks on the boy over a six-year period between the late 1970s and early 1980s in Forfar.
Despite pleading guilty to the vile abuse, McDonald attempted to minimise his actions during an interview with social workers.
Dundee Sheriff Court was told how McDonald – who the boy referred to as “Uncle Gus” despite not being related – claimed the child “made the first move” and “wanted” the abuse to happen.
Imprisoned due to horrendous record
McDonald was previously convicted of child sex offences in 1997, which resulted in a three-month prison sentence.
He was given a community payback order in 2004 for breaching the terms of registration as a sex offender, before being given a probation order in 2007 for sending indecent messages to a young male.
The crimes came to light after the victim was inspired to contact the police following a chance sighting of McDonald in the local area.
The paedophile is now back behind bars after a sheriff ruled only a jail term could mark the severity of the offences.
“You were in a position of some trust at the time in so far as you were a friend of the child’s father,” Sheriff Alastair Carmichael said.
“The child called you Uncle Gus.
“This sexual abuse has had a long-lasting, detrimental impact on him.
“In my view, the requirement for adequate punishment and the requirement to adequately reflect society’s disapproval means there is no alternative but a custodial sentence.”
Repeated child abuse
At an earlier hearing, prosecutor Stewart Duncan explained how McDonald would often stay with the boy and his father after drinking alcohol.
He said: “When he was about 10-years-old, the accused abused him for the first time.
“He was asleep in his bed beside his brother when he had a nightmare.
“He woke to find the accused was also awake and recalls that the accused told him to get into bed beside him.
“He lay on his side with his back towards the accused.”
McDonald then abused the boy and ignored his pleas for him to stop.
The court heard that he was “embarrassed” and “scared” about what happened.
The abuse would occur almost every time McDonald stayed over at the house.
The boy would “end up” in bed with McDonald or the offender would kneel beside him.
Mr Duncan said this abuse would carry on for several years, before the boy entered a relationship with a girl when he was 15.
Chance sighting led to police complaint
“The complainer said that contact with the accused gradually ceased and the witness did not encounter him for a number of years,” Mr Duncan said.
“That was until he recently saw him in the local area.
“This chance encounter triggered unpleasant memories for the complainer, who decided it was the right time to report the matter to the police.”
McDonald was arrested in August 2019 and said during his interview the boy had “made the first move”.
He told officers he thought the child would have been aged about 10 at the time.
When asked why he touched the child indecently, McDonald replied: “Because I’m a paedophile.”
He also replied: “No, it was me touching him just,” when questioned about whether the child had performed any sexual acts on him.
Solicitor – ‘Significant concern’
McDonald, of Damacre Road, Brechin, pled guilty to using lewd, libidinous and indecent practices towards the child, then aged between 10 and 13, on various occasions between December 28, 1977 and December 27, 1981.
He indecently assaulted the child between December 28, 1981 and December 27, 1983 in a similar manner.
Solicitor Keith Sym said he accepted that the comments made by McDonald in the social work report would be of “significant concern” to the court.
Mr Sym said: “I have explained to him that he was the adult in the situation.
“He acknowledges that he has an interest in young males but he has not sought to pursue that interest for a considerable amount of time.
“He does not go out into the community, he lives alone.
“The only social activity he takes part in is going to a local pub run by two of his friends.”
McDonald was sentenced to 20 months in prison and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.
