A PERVERT who fantasised about having sex with underage girls was a Morton kids' football coach before being caught in an online police sting, the Telegraph can reveal.
Mark McCaig trained under 12s youngsters in his role as a Morton in the Community volunteer until the club were alerted to his deviant activities.
McCaig, 39, admitted last week to sending a series of disgusting messages to someone he thought was a 13-year-old schoolgirl — unaware he'd fallen into a police trap.
One father of a child the sex offender coached said: "To think that he had access to youngsters, both boys and girls, by becoming a community football coach is chilling.
"After reading about his perversions in the Tele it makes you stop and think.
"At least we all know now what he's all about."
McCaig, of Greenock's Branchton area, used the social media platform Kik to unwittingly communicate with an undercover officer — typing out texts that are too vile to publish.
He believed he was chatting with a girl called 'Kaitlin' who had turned 13 just three months prior to the conversation beginning.
In one of a catalogue of messages he sent between April 1 and 30 last year, the sex offender wrote: "I love underage girls that dress like little tarts."
He also said: "I got a girlfriend at home and one who lives 20 miles away — the one that lives 20 miles away is 14."
McCaig told the 'girl': "I so wanna be your first kiss. We can go a walk and people will think I'm your dad."
He asked: "So who you got on Kik then, any mates I can add?"
Morton in the Community confirmed that McCaig was previously one of its coaches.
A spokesperson ganisation said: "In May 2019 Police Scotland made us aware that one of our volunteer coaches, Mark McCaig, was the subject of a criminal investigation.
"As is the case with all of our coaches, Mr McCaig had completed all of the relevant background checks that pertain to child safety including Disclosure Scotland's Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme and — in line with our robust processes — these were fully up to date.
"Mr McCaig's involvement with Morton in Community was immediately terminated."
The spokesperson added: "There was no suggestion then, and there is no suggestion now, that any criminality had taken place within the context of Mr McCaig's involvement with Morton in the Community.
"However, in light of Mr McCaig's subsequent conviction we have liaised with the parents of children previously under his supervision and will continue to do so to allay any concerns that they might have about their children's wellbeing."
Sentence on McCaig has been deferred for background and risk assessment reports.
He is due back at Greenock Sheriff Court on February 5.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel