Ex-policeman is put in jail for approaching young girl

Ex-policeman is put in jail for approaching young girl

2 October 2019

A DISGRACED former senior police officer turned paedophile, who propositioned a young girl in a local caravan park, has been jailed. 

Raymond Keith Lindsay (61) will spend half his 28-month sentence in jail and half under supervised licence conditions.

Lindsay, a former RUC inspector, admitted approaching the eight year-old girl at Castlewellan Forest Park on July 26 last year.

Sentencing Rafferty at Downpatrick Crown Court last Thursday, Judge Neil Rafferty QC praised the NSPCC-run PANTS project which, he said, assisted “in the armouring of our children to recognise how to behave when they’re put in a compromising position by an adult.”

The judge said the work done by schools, teachers, parents and the NSPCC “is at the forefront of safeguarding our children going forward”, adding that “the fact that this young girl recognised the scenario and dealt with it appropriately by removing herself for me, is one of the high points of this case”.

Speaking outside the court, the girl’s parents said they were “just glad it’s all over”.

“It’s more about making sure your child is able to come to you and tell you anything. You have to be really open with children,” they said.

“It could have been a whole different story. Any other child that day and it could’ve been a different story.”

At an earlier hearing Lindsay, of Moygashel Park, Dungannon, admitting inciting a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity and to breaching his court imposed Sexual Offences Prevention Order by communicating with a child.

He had initially faced further similar charges of breaching the SOPO by driving a car, riding a bicycle and by being in the forest park on the same date but following his confessions, those allegations were left on the books. 

Passing sentence, Judge Rafferty described how the girl had been staying at the park with her parents and was on her way back from the toilet block when Lindsay approached her and tried to engage her in conversation.

The defendant asked her to go into the bushes and removed his pants. The girl later reported the incident to her parents.

Turning to the victim impact statement, Judge Rafferty said it was clear the victim had been “quite badly affected by the incident” while Lindsay himself had been previously convicted of similar offences and breaches of his life long SOPO. 

Lindsay was first jailed as long ago as 1994 when he was handed a six-year sentence for 16 sex offences including indecent assault, gross indecency and indecent exposure.

A court was later told that he used his position as an RUC inspector to target his vulnerable victims.

Lindsay would approach schoolgirls and ask them did they need help, before abusing them.

A prosecution lawyer said when he was jailed Lindsay never expressed any “remorse, regret or concern for his victims”.

As well as being an RUC inspector, Lindsay was also a staff officer to the Deputy Chief Constable.

While on day release from Magilligan Prison in 1996, Lindsay was convicted of assaulting a woman in Co Monaghan and stealing her clothes.

His life-long SOPO, which prohibits Lindsay from entering amusement arcades and beaches, and from loitering in forest parks and caravan sites, was put in place in 2012 after he was spotted hanging around Tollymore Park in Newcastle and Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor. 

At last week’s sentencing Judge Rafferty made it clear that even when he is released, Lindsay will be subject to strict licence conditions which means that any breach of them will result in him going back to prison to serve out the remainder of his sentence. 

In addition to the jail sentence, the judge ordered Lindsay to sign the police sex offenders register for the next ten years.

The PSNI’s Public Protection Branch has welcomed Lindsay’s conviction.

Detective Constable Micky Meehan praised the girl’s bravery and that of her family.

“Throughout this difficult time they have displayed immense courage and fortitude,” he said.

“Officers in the the PSNI Public Protection Branch are committed to investigating all reports of sexual offences against children and young people.”

He aded: “We will seek to place offenders before the courts so they dan be made amenable for their crimes.”

A spokesperson for NSPCC Northern Ireland said: “Lindsay exploited his position of authority in an attempt to subject a young girl to an appalling ordeal.

“We applaud her bravery as she recovers from what must have been a terrifying incident and we hope she gets the help and support she needs.

“The NSPCC’s PANTS campaign helps parents with children aged eight and under to have vital conversations about staying safe from sexual abuse.”