Allan Cruickshank

A paedophile from Peterhead has been hounded out of his home following a failed attempt to meet a child for sexual purposes in Fife, as detailed in a recent court hearing at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.

Allan Cruickshank, aged 63, initiated an online conversation in July last year with what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl. The exchange quickly turned explicit, with Cruickshank greeting the decoy account with 'Hi beautiful' and proceeding to ask if he could be her boyfriend. He then engaged in graphic sexual instructions, arranging to meet the 'girl' for a night together at a bed and breakfast in Leven. Cruickshank even instructed the supposed child to claim she was his daughter upon arrival, writing, 'We can have sex. I will be your first BF.'

On the day of the planned meeting, Cruickshank boarded an early morning bus from Peterhead to Kirkcaldy, posting regular updates and photos from his journey to the decoy. Upon arriving at Kirkcaldy bus station, he was confronted by members of a vigilante group who had been operating the decoy account. Police were called to the scene, and Cruickshank was arrested.

At Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, Cruickshank pleaded guilty to attempting to communicate with a child and arranging to meet someone he believed to be a child for illegal sex. Sheriff Robert More addressed the gravity of the offence, stating, 'You believed you were talking to a 14-year-old but it was what you describe as a 'vigilante group'. This is a serious offence and the gravity of it would merit a custodial sentence.' The sheriff noted that Cruickshank's home had been targeted as a result of the incident, forcing him to leave, and recommended contacting police over the matter, adding, 'The courts will always condemn those that take the law into their own hands.'

In sentencing, Cruickshank was placed on the sex offenders register for three years, subjected to a 160-day curfew, and ordered to comply with a three-year supervision requirement. During the preparation of a pre-sentencing report, Cruickshank described his actions as a 'mistake' to a social worker. His solicitor, David Bell, acknowledged that the phrasing minimised the offence but noted that Cruickshank's previous convictions were not similar in nature. Additionally, Cruickshank had admitted to breaching bail conditions at Peterhead Sheriff Court by accidentally deleting an item from his phone.

The case highlights the dangers of online grooming and the role of vigilante groups in such stings, though the court emphasised the importance of leaving law enforcement to professionals. Cruickshank attempted to hide his face as he left the court building.