Foster Carer Sentenced for Inappropriate Messages to Former Charge

A former foster carer, Nicholas Murray, has been placed on the sex offenders register after sending explicit messages to a man he previously cared for as a child. The decision came during a sentencing at Elgin Sheriff Court on May 19, 2023, where Murray, aged 50, was found guilty of sending a series of “grossly offensive” WhatsApp texts.

The court heard that the inappropriate communication began shortly after noon on that day. Murray initiated the conversation by asking the man, now in his 20s, about his activities. The exchange took a concerning turn when the man responded with a suggestive comment. Murray followed up with a message asking, “wanna join me?” and another stating, “Thought you could help me out.” These messages made the recipient uncomfortable, leading him to stop responding and share screenshots of the conversation with a friend.

During the proceedings, solicitor Megan Lee indicated that Murray had dedicated the last 15 years to fostering but is now “certainly disgraced.” She noted that both he and his partner have ceased their roles as foster carers. Correspondence from their fostering agency confirmed they are no longer deemed suitable for this responsibility. “For his part, Mr. Murray accepts that this door has closed to him,” Lee stated. “They will not be engaging in any kind of caregiving again.”

Lee contended that being placed on the sex offenders register was unnecessary, arguing that the messages reflected Murray’s “irreverent sense of humour.” Despite this, she acknowledged that he now realizes the inappropriateness of his comments. “He looked back at the messages and he knew they were wrong and went to amend them,” she added.

In an interview with police, Murray referred to his actions as “just being flirty.” Sheriff David Harvie addressed this statement during the hearing, questioning the appropriateness of such a remark directed at someone he had cared for in a paternal role. The Sheriff noted that the three messages sent by Murray escalated in their sexual nature, emphasizing the profound concern the court had regarding the situation.

Murray himself characterized the messages as “sexualised” while speaking with police. Sheriff Harvie remarked on the troubling nature of these comments and the lack of clarity surrounding Murray’s intentions. Lee argued that Murray’s use of the term “sexualised” was merely a reference to police language during his arrest.

In concluding remarks, Sheriff Harvie reiterated the seriousness of the matter. “This was not one message. This was three messages, each an escalation of the one before,” he stated. “This was a message sent to a vulnerable adult who was previously in your care as a foster carer.”

As a consequence of his actions, Murray has been placed under social work supervision for one year and will remain on the sex offenders register for the same duration.