Ronald Young

Ronald Young, a 63-year-old former bus driver from Montrose, has a long history of sexual offences and repeated breaches of his sexual harm prevention order (SOPO). In his latest violation, police discovered an illegal Samsung smartphone hidden behind a microwave in his home during an unannounced spot-check. The discovery came after officers noticed a white charging cable plugged into the wall, which Young claimed had been there 'for a while'. Further investigation using his Tesco Clubcard revealed purchases of top-ups for an unregistered O2 number linked to the Samsung phone, despite Young only disclosing ownership of a basic Nokia phone incapable of internet access. Officers also found a Muama portable Wi-Fi device in the pocket of a jumper.

Young was released from Perth Prison in July 2022, following which police reviewed the conditions of his SOPO with him. This order prohibits him from possessing any communications devices without notifying authorities. Fiscal depute Christine Allan outlined Young's criminal background at Dundee Sheriff Court, noting he has four previous convictions on indictment. His prior offences include being caught twice in five months by undercover 'paedophile hunter' groups. In one instance in 2014, Young sent explicit messages involving bestiality to what he believed was a 13-year-old girl he had befriended online. Posing as an 18-year-old named 'sportsteacher', he travelled 200 miles to Newcastle Central Station to meet her, only to be confronted by vigilantes from the group Dark Justice.

Young was convicted again for another sexual crime after being found with a mobile phone hidden under his mattress—his fourth SOPO breach at that time. He had used the device for sexually graphic conversations with children and teenagers. On another occasion, he travelled to London to meet someone he thought was a child, who turned out to be part of a vigilante group. These repeated attempts to engage in child sex offences underscore his status as a serial predator. At Dundee Sheriff Court, Sheriff Jillian Martin-Brown sentenced Young, currently of HMP Perth, to an additional year in custody, backdated to April 2023. This sentencing reflects the ongoing risk he poses to the public, as highlighted in the court proceedings reported by The Courier.