Ex-Boys’ Brigade leader jailed for child sex abuse

The court heard that Menzies met four of the boys when he was a unit leader with the 118th Boys’ Brigade Company, based in King’s Park Parish Church in Glasgow.

During a trip to a campsite in Leven, Fife, in the mid to late 80s, Menzies indecently assaulted one boy, aged 13 or 14.

The child 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.

He then targeted a third boy, aged around 12 or 13, at a campsite in Glencoe in the early 90s.

During an unofficial camping trip to the Isle of Skye, arranged by Menzies in the mid-90s, he indecently assaulted a fourth teenager.

A number of Boys’ Brigade members were on the trip alongside the victim, who was their friend.

The court also heard that Menzies became involved with the Whitecart Angels Baseball Club in the mid-90s where he met his fifth victim, then aged around 10.

He admitted using lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the boy on various occasions.