Babysitter Jailed For Sex Offences

A man's been for two years for sex offences against two girls aged five and nine he was babysitting.

Paul Scally, 34, took photographs of the youngsters at addresses in Lochgelly and Cardenden and had images on his computer.

Prosecutors told Dundee Sheriff Court: "The evidence in this case overwhelmingly proves that he is a manipulative person who abused the trust of a family who treated him as one of their own.

Scally had denied the charges, which took place between March 2009 and October 2012.

Sheriff Elizabeth Munro also imposed a three-year extended sentence to monitor him upon his release.

Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson earlier told a jury Dundee Sheriff Court: "The evidence in this case overwhelmingly proves that he is a manipulative person who abused the trust of a family who treated him as one of their own.
 
"He's a person with a sexual interest in young girls.
 
"He would like you to believe the occasions where he took the girls places were well intended and generous.
 
"The Crown submits there was a far more sinister reason why he was doing this.
 
"He told the older girl that if she told anybody he would do something to her.
 
"He has not put forward a defence in this case that is remotely plausible in the face of a mountain of evidence against him.
 
"There are a series of what would have to be remarkable co-incidences for his story to be true.
 
"The pictures of the girls around found on his hard drive - is that a co-incidence?
 
"The pants are found in his home the day after the girl told police - is that a co-incidence?
 
"You may choose to believe he is the unluckiest man in Fife.
 
"Or you may choose to accept that all the pieces of the puzzle fit together to prove that Paul scally is sexually attracted to young girls and he systematically acted as charged towards these girls."
 
Scally, 34, of Southfield Avenue, Lochgelly, denied an indictment alleging two charges under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act, one of possessing indecent images of children and one of taking or making indecent images of children.
 
But a jury of nine women and six men took an hour and 45 minutes to find him guilty of all the charges.
 
The offences took place between March 2009 and October 2012 at addresses in Lochgelly and Cardenden, Fife.
 
Scally, who represented himself in court after two sets of solicitors withdrew from acting for him in the case, said: "At the moment I take full responsibilty for everything I have done.
 
"I want to seek medical help so this does not happen again. I would appreciate it if your ladyship gave me a community payback order or a fine and a deferral for anger management."
 
Sheriff Elizabeth Munro jailed Scally for two years, and imposed a three-year extended sentence to monitor him upon his release.
 
She said: "It is my job to consider the public interest and the individual interest and, as you have said, to ensure this does not happen again.
 
"This is a very, very serious case because it was a very deliberate grooming exercise on your part.
 
"Fortunately they have very supportive parents and I am sure they will be whole again.
 
"There has to be a custodial element to the sentence I impose."
 
Speaking after the case, the girls' father said: "This has been a long time coming.
 
"We are really angry that he put the girls through appearing on the witness stand, especially with the overwhelming evidence against him.
 
"We couldn't even speak to them about it because we were witnesses in the case.
 
"This has put a lot of strain on us all. One of my daughters still suffers nightmares.
 
"Today is a closure and it means we can all move forward."