September 2022

Man sparked nationwide hunt for missing girl, 15, after luring her 325 miles for sex

A man sparked a nationwide hunt for a missing schoolgirl after grooming her to make a 750-mile round trip to have sex with him.

Jamie McRae, 23, lured the 15-year-old girl from her home in Lincolnshire to meet him in Perthshire.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also made to pose with McRae for sexually graphic photographs and had his number listed in her phone under the name “Daddy.”

McRae, of Perth, also carried out a sexual assault on a second girl – aged 14 – just a few months later in September 2020.

At Perth Sheriff Court, he admitted engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl in Coupar Angus between March 12 and 15, 2020.

He also admitted sending her sexually explicit messages via social media, and pleaded guilty to having sexual intercourse with her on various occasions between March 13 and 15, 2020.

McRae further admitted sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl by pushing her onto a bed, and kissing her face and neck, at an address in Perth on September 2, 2020.

Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie told the court: “The accused was 20 at the time, and the complainer was 15.

“In the early hours of March 13, the complainer left her home address in Lincolnshire, and travelled by train and bus to meet the accused.

“She did not tell her mother or social workers of her plans and as a result, she was reported as a missing person.

“Police were made aware that the girl could be with McRae as communications between the pair were discovered.

“Officers were tasked to visit the accused’s property, where they found the complainer. She made comments about kissing the accused and sharing a bed with him.

“The complainer and the accused both appeared to have love bite marks.”

Ms Ritchie told the court: “Police spoke to the girl. She said she did not want to reside at home and wanted to be with her boyfriend – referring to the accused.

“They had both met through friends and she confirmed she had received love bites from him. She said they had spent the weekend shopping, eating food and watching films.”

The court heard that McRae’s number was saved in the girl’s phone under the name “Daddy” and there were a string of graphic messages between them.

The fiscal depute added: “The accused’s mobile phone had a screenshot of the complainer’s social media page, which showed her age was 15.”

The girl admitted she first met McRae when she was 14 and that he was well aware of her age.

In the other incident, McRae’s victim said she had regarded him as a friend and ‘like a big brother’ that she could go to for advice.

“She was at school when she received a message from the accused. He asked her to meet up with him,” Ms Ritchie said.

“He told her she could walk into his home and close the door behind her. She went upstairs and met the accused. He was sitting on his bed.

“The complainer said she needed to go back to school. She felt panicked by the situation and started running back to school. She said she was having a panic attack.

“A friend said she should notify the school. A teacher was told about what had happened at the police were contacted. The accused was arrested on September 17.”

Sheriff Euan Duthie remanded McRae in custody for reports and said: “This looks very much like an imprisonable offence.”