'Grotesque' Sex Offender Jailed

A MAN who “ruined the childhoods” of two young girls he sexually abused has been locked up for five years.

Gary McCready was blasted by Sheriff Euan Cameron for his “grotesque” campaign of abuse after a harrowing trial exposed his twisted crimes.

Sheriff Cameron told the 55-year-old he possessed a “highly predatory mindset” before handing him the maximum possible jail sentence available to the Dumfries Sheriff Court.

McCready was also slapped with indefinite non-harassment orders – where he is not allowed to contact his victims – and will be signed onto the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.

McCready had denied his horrific actions, but was convicted by a jury at Dumfries Sheriff Court following a trial that uncovered years of horrific abuse.

The court heard how McCready, of Rosamond Street, Gretna, subjected his first young victim to a sickening catalogue of abuse spanning nearly a decade at a property in the Troqueer area of Dumfries.
McCready lifted the youngster and carried her into a bed when he believed she was asleep. He then stripped her and sexually assaulted her between 2014 and 2019.

Also on various occasions, between December 2020 and December 2022, McCready sexually assaulted the same victim.

The court heard he targeted the girl at various other locations including Troqueer Cemetery – where he tried to bribe her for sex and made twisted suggestions about abusing her against a headstone. He again sexually assaulted the young victim.

McCready’s behaviour did not stop at one child. The jury also found him guilty of another horrific attack on a second young girl between October 2018 and October 2020.

In that vile incident, McCready crept into the sleeping child’s bedroom, shone a torch on her body and carried out a serious sexual assault.

Following the harrowing trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts on four major charges of sexual assault by penetration, sexual assault and directing sexual communication at a child.

But, McCready was found not guilty of a further assault charge involving a third young girl.

Before sentencing McCready, Sheriff Cameron didn’t hold back with his comments and slammed his calculated, pre-meditated planning.

He said: “You have been convicted of an appalling course of sexually abusive conduct over an extended period of time.
“Both of your victims were young vulnerable children at the point of when your abusive behaviour commenced.

“Your behaviour was the most grotesque manner imaginable.

“Your actions clearly involved significant planning and pre-mediation. In my view this illustrated a highly predator mindset.”

Sheriff Cameron turned to the devastating evidence and victim impact statements, which laid bare the physical and psychological scars left on the young girls.
The sheriff added: “Evidence was heard about the harmful impact your behaviour has had upon both of your victims.

“It is clear your conduct has exacted a significant and indelible impact on their lives, it is reasonable inferred they will be impacted for a long time to come and if not permanently.
“In addition to the physical pain that they experienced at the time of your abuse, your conduct has had an immeasurable and psychological impact on them too.

“That much was made clear with the victim impact statements submitted to this court.

“It is clear you have been responsible for ruining the childhoods of both of your victims.

“One can only hope that they can devise some solace with the fact of your conviction.”

Sheriff Cameron admitted he spent time agonising over whether to send McCready to the High Court, where judges have the power to hand down much longer prison sentences.
But with “some hesitation,” the sheriff decided to keep the case in Dumfries but locked McCready up for five years – the maximum penalty allowed at sheriff court level.

Sheriff Cameron added: “I take the view I need to punish you for your significant wrongdoing, the harm you caused and to send out a deterrent.

“Given the extent of your offending against young vulnerable children in this case no sentence other than significant imprisonment is suitable.

“I gave serious consideration to whether it would be appropriate to remit your case to the High Court for sentencing. With some hesitation, I’ve decided not to.”