A former Glasgow Boys Brigade leader and youth football coach has been jailed after historically abusing seven boys in his care.

Craig Menzies targeted his victims at various locations across Scotland between 1986 and 2004.  

The 55-year-old met four of his victims when he was a unit leader with the 118th Boys Brigade Company, based in Kings Park Parish in Glasgow.  

During a BB trip to a campsite in Leven, Fife, in the mid to late 80s, Menzies indecently assaulted a boy.  

The child, who was aged 13 or 14, was intoxicated and asleep when the abuse began.  

A second boy, aged around 12 or 13, was targeted during a camping trip at the West Highland Way, near Fort William, in the early to mid-90s. 

Menzies gave the boy alcohol and showed him pornographic magazines before sexually abusing him. 

A third boy, aged around 12 or 13, was targeted by the unit leader at a campsite in Glencoe in the early 90s. 

A fourth teenager was indecently assaulted during an unofficial camping trip to the Isle of Skye that had been arranged by Menzies in the mid-90s 

A number of Boys Brigade members were in attendance alongside the victim, who was their friend.  

Menzies became involved with the Whitecart Angels Baseball Club in the mid-1990s where he met his fifth victim, then aged around 10 years old. 

He admitted using lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the boy on various occasions in the early to mid-90s.  

The sixth victim, aged around 13, met Menzies through a family friend and would take part in ‘fitness sessions’ held at Bellahouston Park or at the accused’s home address. 

Menzies admitted sexually abusing the boy on an occasion in the early to mid-2000s.  

The paedophile was the manager and physiotherapist for Cart Castle Youth Football Club in Glasgow when he targeted his seventh victim in the early 2000s.  

The boy, aged around 13 at the time the abuse began, was shown pornographic films and abused at Menzies’ home. 

Menzies appeared at the High Court in Glasgow on May 29, 2024, after pleading guilty to seven charges including four of indecent assault and three of lewd, indecent & libidinous practises and behaviour. 

He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment at the same court on July 2 with a further three years on licence.  

He has also been added to the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.  

Scotland’s Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offending, Katrina Parkes said:  “Menzies used his position and community links to prey on vulnerable young boys who should have been safe in his care.  

“His depraved offending affected many, who now live with the traumatic consequences of his actions.  

“I would like to commend their bravery in coming forward. Their strength has resulted in his conviction.   

“COPFS prosecutors are committed to justice for victims of child sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the offences occurred.     

“I would urge any victim of similar crime not to suffer in silence but to report it and seek support.

"Our prosecutors will use every tool available in seeking justice.”