Offshore Supervisor Receives Child Abuse Images on North Sea Installation
A woman took pictures of herself abusing a young boy and sent pictures of the abuse to a supervisor on a North Sea Installation.
Depraved Caroline Greig who carried out the sexual assault shared the images over Facebook messenger with Offshore Supervisor Steven McLachlan whilst he was on board the Ninian South Installation.
McLachlan 52 from New Pitsligo, close to Fraserburgh and Caroline Greig, 47 both admitted their involvement in the sexual assault and possession and distribution of indecent images of a child and are now facing the likelihood of lengthy prison sentences.
McLachlan advised police that he was in communication with Greig and confirmed she was taking pictures of the abuse and sending them to him via Facebook messenger.
The ‘pair’ who were accused of “living out a fantasy” were remanded in custody yesterday after an appearance at the High Court in Edinburgh. The court heard that Greig 47, carried out sex acts in October last year and took photographs before distributing them through social media.
Advocate depute Tim Niven-Smith, prosecuting, said “The accused (McLachlan) accepts he was privy to the fact that his encouragement led to Caroline Greig actually perpetrating the sexual acts.
Mr Niven-Smith said McLachlan had admitted they were both “equally to blame”. He said the pair had also shared pictures of themselves “in varying degrees of undress”.
Police were alerted to the abuse after an image of Greig who also formerly worked in the oil industry was discovered after someone borrowed her phone to access the internet.
Police later seized the handset and recovered 57 indecent images of the child most of which also features Greig who had abused the boy at a house in Lothian.
McLachlan’s home at New Pitsligo was also raided and officers recovered his mobile phone where they found sexualised messages between him and Greig pointing to the existence of indecent images.
Mr Niven-Smith did state that no images of the boy were found on McLachlans phone and that the accused (Mclachland) had never met nor had physical contact with her.
Greig admitted the sexual assault and taking and distributing indecent images of children. McLachlan also admitted sexual assault and possession of indecent images.
McLachlan’s counsel, Ian Duguid QC, said: “He has had well remunerated and good employment in the offshore oil industry and finds himself in a court for the first time.”
He said the father-of-two, who runs his own company, was “extremely remorseful” and “disgusted” by his conduct.
