iStockA former Ministry of Defence employee who groomed a teenage boy has been jailed for three years.
Fionn McKee, 52, preyed on his victim at his home in Glasgow between March 2020 and March 2022.
The film and TV logistics manager plied the boy with alcohol, cigarettes and money from the age of 14 or 15.
McKee was said to be romantically involved with the victim, whom he claimed he thought was 18.
McKee – who worked with complex warships in his MOD role – was found guilty of arranging to meet three teenage boys for the purpose of sexual activity.
He was also convicted of engaging in sexual activity with one of the boys as well as possession of indecent images of children.
Sheriff Paul Reid put McKee on a strict sexual harm prevention order for five years at sentencing.
McKee will be prevented from being in the presence of children under the age of 16.
He has been told not to enter Glasgow city centre without the permission of his sexual offences police officer.
McKee cannot delete his internet search history and must hand over his usernames and passwords to the authorities.
He also has to inform the police of any new relationships or friendships.
Previously, the sheriff told him: “The evidence suggests that your behaviour was predatory and devious.
“You are a danger to young vulnerable boys and the custodial threshold has been passed for the offences.”
The trial heard that McKee – who worked for Humanitarian Disaster Relief – met the first boy from a social media app in March 2020.
McKee claimed that he believed the boy was 18 when in fact he was 14 or 15 years old.
He said: “To me, he didn’t appear to be the age that he turned out to be.”
McKee claimed that the boy was “broad-shouldered” and had a moustache on his face.
He stated that their “friendship” turned sexual and claimed that it was consensual.
McKee told his defence counsel Lewis Kennedy that he also bought the boy cigarettes and would drink alcohol in his house.
He further stated that the boy also smoked cannabis in his house but did not provide him it.
McKee also gave him money by online bank transfer.
Prosecutor Sean Docherty quizzed McKee on his claim that he was unaware of the boy’s true age until his arrest.
He directed McKee to a cybercrime report on McKee’s phone calendar which showed an entry with the boy’s name and “17th” after it.
McKee claimed that it was a typo when keying in the number.
Evidence was heard that the boy’s age was also written on the card given to him by McKee.
Mr Docherty said: “If you had a conversation before his 17th when he was 16, then you have known for the last year you were engaged in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy, surely that’s something that sticks in your mind?”
McKee replied: “No and it didn’t.”
McKee also met two other boys and had them over to his house.
He encountered the 15-year-old at a McDonald’s in Glasgow city centre and offered to buy him food.
This led to the boy introducing McKee to his friend, who was 13 years old.
The pair would visit McKee’s home, but he claimed that there was no sexual interest towards them.
It was revealed that McKee has one previous conviction for drink driving from two years ago.
Lewis Kennedy, defending, told the sentencing judge that his client has shown some remorse for his offending.
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