Skip to content

Paedophile who used pets to lure victims jailed

POLICE SCOTLAND A bald man wearing a white T-shirt in a close-up police custody image POLICE SCOTLAND
Gary MacPherson's youngest victim was six years old when the abuse began

A paedophile who used pets, a trampoline and a cinema room to lure young girls to his house has been jailed for 13 years.

Gary MacPherson, 58, was found guilty of 22 charges, including sexual offences and stalking, following a trial last month.

He committed the crimes between 2005 and 2022 at various locations including in Glasgow and at his former home in Paisley, Renfrewshire.

The youngest victim was six when the abuse began.

Prosecutors said MacPherson, of Saltcoats in North Ayrshire, "inflicted unimaginable trauma" on his victims.

At the High Court in Paisley he was given an extended sentence of 17 years, comprising of 13 years in custody and four years of supervision upon release .

Victims had told the trial of a pattern of behaviour by MacPherson as he tried to gain their trust.

COPFS A mobile phone screenshot of a text conversation. It shows a picture of a dog and the caption "Bonnie asks if she can see you". COPFS
MacPherson used pictures of his dog to help lure one of his victims

Prosecutors said he fitted his home with things that children enjoyed, including a trampoline, a cinema room, a hot tub and pool.

He also had various pets, and lured in one of the victims after sending her messages about his dog on social media.

MacPherson told several of the victims not to tell anyone about the abuse as they would get him into trouble.

He also stalked girls and and took pictures of them without their consent.

MacPherson's name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Non-harassment orders, banning him from contacting or attempting to contact seven of the victims, were also granted for an indefinite period.

'Depraved actions'

Fiona Kirkby, procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, said: "Gary MacPherson inflicted unimaginable trauma as he systematically moved from victim to victim."

She said it was thanks to the victims that he would "now face the consequences of his depraved actions".

Det Insp Euan McMillan said: "MacPherson is an abusive individual who subjected his victims to a prolonged period of abuse, showing an utter disregard for the impact this would have on them."

He added: "I would urge anyone who wishes to report a sexual crime, regardless of when it happened, to contact us so we can conduct a thorough and professional investigation."