A former Boys Brigade Paedophile commander, Craig Menzies, and young football coach has been imprisoned for repeatedly abusing seven boys in his charge.
Craig Menzies targeted his victims in a variety of locations across Scotland between 1986 and 2004. The 55-year-old met four of his victims while serving as a unit leader with the 118th Boys Brigade Company, which was headquartered in Kings Park Parish, Glasgow.
Craig Menzies sexually molested a youngster while on a BB trip to a camping in Leven, Fife, in the mid to late 1980s. The child, who was 13 or 14, was inebriated and asleep when the abuse began.
A second youngster, perhaps 12 or 13, was targeted during a camping trip along the West Highland Way near Fort William in the early to mid-1990s. Craig Menzies offered the youngster wine and showed him pornographic pictures before sexually assaulting him.
The unit leader targeted a third boy, aged 12 or 13, at a campsite in Glencoe in the early 1990s. A fourth youngster was indecently molested during an illegal camping trip to the Isle of Skye organised by Craig Menzies in the mid-1990s.
Craig Menzies became associated with the Whitecart Angels Baseball Club in the mid-1990s, when he met his fifth victim, who was about the age of ten. He agreed to utilising obscene, indecent, and libidinous techniques and behaviour towards the youngster on several occasions in the early to mid-1990s.
The sixth victim, around the age of 13, met Craig Menzies through a family acquaintance and attended ‘fitness lessons’ at Bellahouston Park or the accused’s home address. Craig Menzies acknowledged to sexually abusing the youngster sometime in the early to mid-2000s.
The paedophile was the manager and physiotherapist at Cart Castle Youth Football Club in Glasgow when he targeted his seventh victim in the early 2000s. The youngster, who was around 13 years old when the abuse began, was shown pornographic films and abused at Craig Menzies’ home.
Craig Menzies pleaded guilty to seven charges before the High Court in Glasgow on May 29.
On July 2, he was sentenced to 12 years in jail, followed by three years on licence. He has also been put to the sex offenders registry for an indeterminate period.
Katrina Parkes, Procurator Fiscal for High Court sexual offending, stated that Craig Menzies exploited his position and his connections to prey on vulnerable young boys who should have been safe in his custody. Many others were affected by his heinous crimes, and many are still dealing with the painful consequences. I’d like to recognise their bravery in coming out. Their strength has led to his conviction.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.