The Glasgow football coach and leader of the Boys’ Brigade sexually abused children for almost two decades

A vile former youth football coach and leader of the Boys’ Brigade has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing young boys over the course of nearly two decades.

Between 1986 and 2004, Craig Menzies abused seven boys who were in his care. The boys were only ten years old. The perpetrator sought out children in various locations in Scotland in his role as squad leader of the 118th Boys’ Brigade Company and as manager of the Cart Castle Youth Football Club in Glasgow.

Menzies appeared in court at the High Court in Glasgow earlier this year. On May 29, he pleaded guilty to seven charges.

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The 55-year-old was sentenced today (July 2) to 12 years in prison, with a further three years suspended. He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, the Record reports.

The court heard Menzies plied the boys with alcohol before attacking them and showing them pornographic images. In the mid to late 1980s, Menzies abused a boy during a BB trip to a campsite in Leven, Fife.

The child – aged 13 or 14 – was drunk and asleep when the abuse began. A second boy, aged around 12 or 13, was the victim of the abuse during a camping trip on the West Highland Way near Fort William in the early to mid-1990s.

Menzies gave the boy alcohol and showed him pornographic magazines before sexually abusing him. A third boy, aged around 12 or 13, was abused by the unit leader at a campsite in Glencoe in the early 1990s.

A fourth teenager was indecently assaulted during an unofficial camping trip to the Isle of Skye organised by Menzies in the mid-1990s. At the time, several members of the Boys Brigade were present with the victim, who was her boyfriend.

Menzies was involved with the Whitecart Angels baseball club in the mid-1990s when he met his fifth victim, who was then aged around 10. He admitted engaging in lewd, indecent and lascivious practices and behaviour towards the boy on a number of occasions in the early to mid-1990s.

The sixth victim, aged around 13, met Menzies through a family friend and attended “fitness classes” held at Bellahouston Park or the defendant’s home address. Menzies admitted sexually abusing the boy on one occasion in the early to mid-2000s.

The paedophile was manager and physiotherapist at Cart Castle Youth Football Club in Glasgow when he targeted his seventh victim in the early 2000s. The boy, who was around 13 years old when the abuse began, was shown pornographic films and abused in Menzies’ home.

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Katrina Parkes, Scotland’s sex offender prosecutor, said: “Menzies exploited his position and connections in the community to abuse vulnerable young boys who would have been safe in his care.”

“His heinous crimes have affected many who are now living with the traumatic consequences of his actions. I commend their courage in speaking out. Their strength has led to his conviction.

“The COPFS prosecutors are committed to seeking justice for victims of child sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the crimes occurred. I would like to urge any victim of similar crimes not to suffer in silence, but to report the crime and seek support. Our prosecutors will use every means available to obtain justice.”

Detective Inspector Colin Moffat, of the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “Menzies has admitted sexual violence against young people over three decades. He abused his position as a trusted adult with these children and must now face the consequences of his despicable actions.”

“I hope that his conviction and sentence will bring some form of justice to those involved, who have shown incredible strength throughout the reporting and trial.

“Police Scotland is committed to tackling all forms of sexual crime, regardless of when it was committed. I would urge anyone who has been a victim of such crime to come forward, knowing that we will fully investigate the incident and you will be supported by our specially trained officers and partner agencies.”

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