Alexander McCracken

Alexander McCracken, a 39-year-old former police officer with Strathclyde Police, has been released from prison and rehoused in a one-bedroom flat in Ayr, Scotland, just a five-minute walk from a local nursery school. McCracken was sentenced in 2015 to four-and-a-half years in prison after admitting to three charges of possessing and distributing indecent images of children at Ayr Sheriff Court. Alongside his then-girlfriend Sharon Campbell, he shared horrific images of child abuse online and plotted to conceive a baby specifically to sexually abuse it.

The court heard disturbing details of the couple's intentions, describing themselves as a 'no limits pedo couple, especially love newborn baby'. McCracken expressed desires to 'breed a baby boy' to abuse 'as soon as born' and stated he would 'deffo rape a little baby girl'. Police raids on his Ayr home in 2010 uncovered over 500 hardcore child abuse and bestiality images, with 33 being of the most depraved category. These images were shared among paedophiles between July 2012 and October 2013. McCracken, who had served nine years with Strathclyde Police before being exposed as a swinger and bisexual prostitute charging £400 a night, was released in December 2018.

Upon release, McCracken and Campbell were each placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and given ten-year Sexual Offences Prevention Orders. They were also banned from seeing their children from previous relationships and from using any internet-accessible devices. A source speaking anonymously to the Leader Live expressed concern over McCracken's proximity to the nursery, questioning, 'I don't understand why he was able to get a flat by a school. He's still denying what he's done. His family are still choosing to believe him. There's just no remorse or decency.'

Scottish Conservative shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr described the situation as 'shocking', stating, 'Obviously individuals like this have to be housed somewhere. But many people will understandably be furious at how close the accommodation is to a nursery. Perhaps the more shocking element of this episode is the fact someone guilty of such a horrific crime is free to walk the streets at all.' The source further noted McCracken's recent activities, including an unsuccessful job attempt at a local meat factory, being ejected from a gym after his identity was discovered, and being spotted in public spaces like a dentist's waiting room among young children. A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed that McCracken has no active cases.