Latest news with #JamesRennie
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Two notorious paedophiles 'walking streets of Edinburgh despite risk to public'
James Rennie, who sexually assaulted a three-month old boy, and Neil Strachan, who tried to rape a toddler, have been spotted walking the streets of the capital. Two ringleaders of one of the largest paedophile networks in the UK are preparing for possible prison release - despite being branded a "risk to public safety". James Rennie, who sexually assaulted a three-month old boy, and Neil Strachan, who tried to rape a toddler, have been spotted walking the streets of Edinburgh during leave from an open prison. Rennie, 54, is former chief executive of gay and trans rights charity LGBT Youth Scotland. As reported by the Scottish Daily Express, he spends a week in the Crane Hostel in the city's New Town at different times to Strachan, 57. The pair were locked up in 2009 following a case that involved a haul of 125,000 child abuse images and videos. Tory deputy spokeswoman on victims and community safety, Sharon Dowey, said: "Victims will be disgusted that these predatory criminals are freely walking about in Edinburgh. "This decision clearly poses a risk to public safety and sums up the contempt the SNP's justice system has for brave victims." The beasts were being held at open prison Castle Huntly, near Dundee. The men who hail from Edinburgh are serving reduced sentences following an appeal to nine years and eight and a half years. Scottish Labour justice spokesman Pauline McNeill told the Daily Mail: "Given the horrific nature of these crimes, it is concerning that these men are being given the chance to fraternise." A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: "We do not comment on individuals." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you. We're also on Facebook - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Daily Record, Sunday Mail and Record Online
Sunday Post
11-05-2025
- Health
- Sunday Post
Experts call for Care Inspectorate to revise trans advice
Get a weekly round-up of stories from The Sunday Post: Thank you for signing up to our Sunday Post newsletter. Something went wrong - please try again later. Sign Up Child safeguarding experts are calling for the Care Inspectorate to update its advice on transitioning in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on gender. The Care Inspectorate's latest guidance, issued after the ruling on the legal definition of sex, continues to promote donation pages for a trans charity that had Children In Need funding withdrawn over its links to two convicted paedophiles. The guidance – intended to set out best practice for social workers and care givers – does, however, say people should use public toilets compatible with their biological sex. Published on Thursday, the document contains dozens of references extolling LGBT Youth Scotland, including links to its donation pages, despite the charity coming under fire over former volunteer and convicted paedophile Andrew Easton helping to write its 'coming out guide', which was made available to hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren. The charity's former CEO, James Rennie, was also jailed for years for a sickening sex attack on a baby and for heading up one of Scotland's biggest paedophile rings. The Care Inspectorate's guidance urges care providers to 'enhance LGBT visibility' by displaying posters by LGBT Youth Scotland and celebrating events including one the regulatory body describes as 'an annual fundraising day for LGBT Youth Scotland'. Educational psychologist Carolyn Brown, a former Scottish Government adviser, said: 'The Care Inspectorate is a regulatory body, so it is deeply concerning that they have contained funding-raising links to any charity, never mind one that has had links to not just one but two convicted paedophiles. 'Social care staff have been waiting to see the regulator's response following the Supreme Court ruling and subsequent Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) guidance but, apart from making clear people must use the toilets provided for their biological sex, very little else has been changed.' Mary Howden, the former head of education at the Scottish Social Services Council, said: 'This new guidance, which will be hugely influential, is supposed to inform social workers and care givers on evidence-based practice. But it completely fails to do that, continuing instead to support and parrot organisations that promote the deceitful lie that children are born in the wrong body.' The new guidance follows the Supreme Court case brought against the Scottish Government by campaign group For Women Scotland aided by Scottish Lesbians and Sex Matters. The ruling sparked major changes for public bodies and sports authorities. The Care Inspectorate said: 'We have considered the Supreme Court ruling and updated our guidance. We have also taken into account interim guidance published by the EHRC and look forward to their full guidance in due course. We will update our guidance again as necessary.' LGBT Youth Scotland has said its links to Rennie and Easton were in the past.
The Sun
10-05-2025
- The Sun
Scotland's most notorious paedos set for release as pics reveal they're already on streets
THE ringleaders of a huge paedophile network are wandering the streets and staying in the same digs. James Rennie, 54, and Neil Strachan, 57, have served 16 years for vile child sex crimes. 6 6 6 We can reveal they've been at an Edinburgh hostel as a source slammed it as 'astonishing'. The move towards releasing two of Scotland 's most notorious paedophiles simultaneously has been branded 'a risk to public safety'. Rennie, 54, who sexually assaulted a three-month-old baby, and Strachan, 57, who tried to rape an 18-month-old boy, are already walking the streets during leave from an open prison for prolonged stays in an offenders' hostel. The sick duo were jailed in 2009 after they were caught heading the country's biggest paedophile ring — involving eight members and a haul of 125,000 horrific child abuse images and videos. Prison chiefs are allowing them to stay in the same digs in Edinburgh in what is believed to be part of a programme for their permanent release into the community. Insiders told The Scottish Sun that Rennie and Strachan get week-long stays at the Crane Hostel in the capital's New Town. And our pictures show that the fiends' visits to the facility — which lies just 0.7 miles from a primary school — even overlap. Scottish Tory deputy spokeswoman on victims and community safety, Sharon Dowey, said: 'Victims will be disgusted that these predatory criminals are freely walking about in Edinburgh. 'This decision clearly poses a risk to public safety and sums up the contempt the SNP's justice system has for brave victims. 'All too often their needs are shamefully sidelined in favour of criminals' needs.' Watch 'perv' teacher Christina Formella arrive at court with husband by her side…as she's accused of molesting teen boy Sources say the paedophile partnership freely fraternise at low security Castle Huntly nick, near Dundee. One said: 'It's disgusting. There are loads of them in Castle Huntly and they all go about with each other growing their network. 'They are even locked up in the same hall in the prison, so when the doors are closed at 7.30pm at night they sit in each others cells.' The source added: 'These two shouldn't be allowed out for what they did, never mind for seven days at a time.' We watched as Strachan, a former secretary of Celtic Boys Club in Edinburgh, arrived at Crane Hostel a week past Thursday. And he was still there a week later, when we saw him emerge at 10am to take a stroll around Edinburgh city centre. Wearing a baseball cap and carrying a rucksack, he enjoyed soaring temperatures as he walked towards the city's Princes Street among unwitting passers-by. 6 6 6 He returned to the hostel a short time later. Then, just after 11am his accomplice Rennie — who was thought to be just starting a week away from prison — arrived at the hostel on foot carrying a rucksack. He looked sheepishly over his shoulder as he waited to be let into the building. Then, within half- an-hour we pictured Strachan emerging from the same door. It's understood he was leaving to go back to prison after spending his week away. Rennie also appeared to have gone out for a walk to enjoy the sunshine. Pictures show him returning to the hostel at around 5pm. It is thought the pair are subject to a strict curfew between 9pm and 8am when they are there. Scottish Labour justice spokesperson Pauline McNeill said: 'These worrying reports raise serious questions that must be answered. 'Given the horrific nature of these crimes, it is concerning that these men are being given the chance to fraternise. The SNP must work with all relevant services to ensure that public safety is being properly protected.' We told how Strachan and Rennie, both of Edinburgh, were jailed for a minimum of 16 and 13 years respectively. But appeal judges reduced Strachan's term to nine years and Rennie's to eight-and-a-half years. As well as preying on a baby, teacher Rennie, ex-chief executive of LGBT Youth Scotland, also conspired to get access to children in order to abuse them. Strachan tried to rape his 18-month-old victim while looking after him at Hogmanay 2005. He also downloaded and pored over online child abuse images. Strachan, who is HIV positive, was previously given a three-year prison sentence in 1997 for abusing a boy. Cops uncovered the paedophile ring after he handed his computer in for repair and child abuse material was found. A Scottish Prison Service spokesperson said: 'We do not comment on individuals. "Anyone being considered for home leave is subject to a rigorous multi-agency risk assessment and if approved, individualised plans are put in place to meet their risks and needs.'
Telegraph
07-04-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Trans charity linked to paedophile hangs banner in NHS children's hospital
A transgender charity linked to a paedophile has hung a banner in an NHS children's hospital. LGBT Youth Scotland displayed the rainbow-coloured banner in a paediatric clinic at Wishaw General Hospital, run by NHS Lanarkshire. The poster featured phone and website contact details as well as signposting parents and children to the Scottish Transgender Alliance and other organisations. The banner was also emblazoned with LGBT definitions including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex. NHS Lanarkshire could not confirm where or how many of the banners were on display at other hospitals such as Hairmyres and Monklands because it does not keep a log. LGBT Youth Scotland lost funding from the BBC's Children in Need last year after it was revealed that Andrew Easton, a co-author of the charity's 'coming out' guide for children and championed by Scottish schools, was a convicted paedophile. Separately, James Rennie, the charity's former chief executive, was jailed in 2009 after sexually assaulting a baby and being exposed as one of the leaders of Scotland's biggest paedophile ring. 'Let children be children' Mother Roisin Coll, a professor of Catholic Education at the University of Glasgow, saw the banner when she took her child to the hospital clinic for an appointment. She wrote on X: 'Was in an NHS North Lanarkshire paediatrics clinic today with my young child only to be faced with this advert. Why are politics & ideologies being pushed in a healthcare setting meant for children. Completely inappropriate. Let children be children.' Jane McLenachan, of the human rights charity Sex Matters, replied: 'Promoting an organisation mired in scandal after scandal reported to the Charity Commission, subject to legal action, linked to paedophiles.' The retired social work educator added: 'LGBTYS is the last organisation that should be anywhere near children & young people. Completely irresponsible.' Caroline McAllister, of Women Won't Wheesht, a grass-roots group championing women's rights, said she was surprised a children's clinic was promoting the 'discredited organisation LGBTYS'. She added: 'Their lack of safeguarding of children and young people in our services is breathtaking when there have been allegations of grooming and sexual exploitation of minors. 'The NHS is a service charged with safeguarding children and should not be signposting children to organisations that fill their heads with anti-science nonsense. No one can change their sex.' Another critic posted: 'I'm deeply frustrated by this. The NHS is meant to be a healthcare service not a platform for pushing ideologies that undermine women's privacy and dignity. 'This approach feels like gaslighting the public, forcing an agenda that leaves women and girls in uncomfortable and unfair situations. It's unacceptable to mock or disregard women's rights in this way.' Kirsty, another mother, wrote: 'I've complained about the exact same sign in there myself when I was in with my four-year-old.' NHS 'fully captured' by transgender ideology Dozens of Scottish hospitals feature with LGBT banners, flags and promotion materials including Glasgow's flagship Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Critics claim NHS health boards have been 'fully captured' by contested transgender ideology asserting that biological males identifying as female must be allowed access to women's hospital wards, changing rooms and toilets. It emerged recently trans patients with beards can be sent to female wards in Scottish hospitals thanks to NHS policies and procedures allowing them to self-identify as women. NHS Tayside is among those allowing trans people to be sent to wards that match their 'presentation'. Sandie Peggie, a veteran nurse, has taken NHS Fife to a tribunal after being suspended following an incident on Christmas Eve 2023 in female changing rooms after she objected to changing in front of transgender medic Dr Beth Upton, a biological male formerly known as Theodore. She worked at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for 30 years before being suspended and asked to work elsewhere after objecting to Upton's presence in what she claims should be a single sex space.
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Trans charity tells self-harming children ‘to use clean razor blades'
A transgender charity allegedly trained volunteers to advise self-harming children to use 'clean razor blades'. LGBT Youth Scotland was reported to the charity regulator by a whistleblower who claims they were given 'shocking and callous' instructions on how to deal with young people who were intentionally harming themselves. Instead of discouraging the children from hurting themselves, it is alleged that managers said that if they were arming themselves as a ' coping mechanism ', it would be wrong to 'take that away from them'. Instead, volunteers were allegedly told 'we have to ask them if they are using clean razor blades'. The whistleblower claimed that when they challenged the policy in 2023, they were 'dismissed' by managers who 'didn't see the issue' and defended self-harm as children 'might not have any other ways of coping'. 'I found this shocking and callous. I think it's reckless to suggest to a mentally ill young person that they should be using clean razor blades,' the whistleblower told The Times. 'This could easily be misunderstood as a sign of encouragement that they should be engaging in acts of self harm. 'Volunteers are not mental health professionals and should, in my opinion, not be asking people if they are using 'clean razors' to carry out acts of self-injury.' The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) said it had 'engaged'with the charity as a result of the complaint around self-harm and that the organisation had 'reviewed' its policies. A spokesman added: 'We have not needed to use our formal powers in this case and so are not required to publish a report. 'Following our engagement with the charity, it has amended its objects and purposes to be more accessible to the public and better reflect the requirements of charity law. 'Additionally, it has reviewed and updated key policies. We are satisfied with these actions in response to concerns and have concluded our inquiries.' The 'concern' raised about its stance on self-harm was among 13 disclosed to The Times following a Freedom of Information request. The remainder criticised LGBT Youth Scotland, which receives more than £1 million a year in taxpayer funding and is active in hundreds of Scottish schools, for its stance in support of puberty blockers and promotion of gender ideology. Last year Rosie Millard, chairman of Children in Need, resigned amid reports she complained about £466,000 in grants being awarded to LGBT Youth Scotland whose former chief executive, James Rennie, was jailed for child sex offences 15 years ago. LGBT Youth Scotland said it had been 'pleased to work with OSCR recently to confirm that LGBT Youth Scotland is operating within our governance framework and objects'. It pointed out that the charity only provided direct service delivery to individuals 'in the 13-25 age range'. A spokesman added: 'We have never provided direct services to primary-aged pupils. Our work with primary schools has been focused exclusively on offering work-based training for staff to support inclusive environments for LGBT young people.'
