Ex-Free Church of Scotland minister David Finlay Macdonald attempted to extort intimate images from woman

A former Free Church of Scotland Minister who created a fake social media profile in an attempt to extort intimate images from a young woman has been sentenced.

David Finlay Macdonald, from Stornoway, pretended to be a female named “Eilidh” and threatened to disclose sensitive information about his victim if she did not send him explicit images of herself.

The 32-year-old used the fake online persona to communicate with his victim between January and December 2010. He pled guilty to one charge of attempted extortion at Stornoway Sheriff Court in November.

On Wednesday, he was sentenced to 180 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £750 compensation.

Andy Shanks, Procurator Fiscal for Grampian, Highland and Islands, said: “David Macdonald’s deliberate and persistent deceit caused his victim great distress.

“This prosecution should serve as a warning to others that we take crimes of this nature seriously. I would urge anyone who has been the victim of similar offending to come forward and seek support.”

A spokesperson for the church said: “The Free Church of Scotland is deeply dismayed that the former assistant minister of one of our congregations is guilty of such behaviour.

“Our ministers and students are expected to live to the highest moral and ethical standards. Moreover, the Free Church takes very seriously any allegation that such standards have been compromised.

“We extend our support, sympathy and pastoral concern to the victim and all involved.”