A former north-east football coach who is serving a jail sentence for child abuse has admitted sex crimes against a further two boys.
Alasdair McCulloch, 36, kissed and carried out sex acts on one victim and indecently assaulted another youngster in Aberdeenshire.
McCulloch was jailed in 2018 for four-and-a-half years after he pled guilty to five indecency offences after targeting boys during an eight-year period between 1998 and 2006.
Two of the boys were lured into woods to play truth or dare then abused.
McCulloch, who is serving his sentence in Glenochil prison in Clackmannanshire, appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh today via a TV link to admit two further charges of abuse committed between 2001 and 2008.
Advocate depute Richard Goddard QC said one of the latest victim’s had first contacted police about McCulloch in 2011 and was interviewed but there was insufficient evidence to proceed at the time.
The other was also spoken to earlier but revealed he was not able to report McCulloch’s conduct because of embarrassment.
One knew McCulloch through playing football and would visit him and fell victim to his abuse.
The prosecutor said he did not disclose what had happened to him because he did not think he would be believed. He has since been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.
McCulloch, of Fraserburgh, was eight years older than the second child whom he indecently assaulted and made perform sex acts on him.
Defence counsel Drew McKenzie said McCulloch had been exposed to pornography at a young age.
He said: “As a young adult he was bullied by his peers and found it easier to associate with younger boys.”
He said the former production engineer is currently undertaking science studies through the Open University.
The judge, Lord Boyd of Duncansby, deferred sentence on McCulloch until June for the preparation of a background report. He was placed on the sex offenders’ register.
Detective Sergeant Stuart Robinson, National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Police Scotland, said: “McCulloch is a sexual predator who abused young boys he befriended either through football, or who he knew from his local community. He abused their friendship and their trust. He alone is responsible for his actions the consequences of which he is facing today.
“His guilty plea today is a testimony to the bravery of all of the young men who spoke out and reported McCulloch. Their actions have brought him to justice and protected others.
“We know that speaking out about abuse is not easy. People often don’t feel able to report until long after the abuse occurred. We would like to reassure anyone who has been a victim of child abuse, or knows of someone who has been a victim, that if they wish to report we will listen and we will investigate.”
This article originally appeared on the Evening Express website. For more information, read about our new combined website.
