Minister who posed as lesbian in sex pics extortion is sacked

A Free Church of Scotland minister who posed as a lesbian in a sex pics extortion bid has been sacked.

The General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland has “solemnly deposed” former Reverend David Finlay Macdonald, 34, who had threatened to disclose sensitive information about his female victim if she refused to send him pics of herself in the nude.

Macdonald, from Stornoway, Lewis, pretended to be a female called Eilidh between January and December in 2010.

He then threatened to expose sensitive information about her if she did not send him sexually explicit images of herself. over MSN messenger.

The young woman, who could be identified for legal reasons, testified that she felt “sickened to my stomach” after realising that Macdonald was trying to blackmail her.

Macdonald pleaded guilty to one charge of attempted extortion at Stornoway Sheriff Court in 2022 but escaped jail.

Instead, he was ordered to perform 180 hours of unpaid work and pay £750 compensation.

He had faced two similar accusations relating to incidents in 2015 which allegedly involved two other women but his not guilty pleas were accepted by the Crown Office.

Confirming Macdonald’s removal, the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland stated: “Following formal complaints made by three women against Rev. David F. Macdonald, formerly Assistant Minister at Back Free Church, Isle of Lewis, involving attempts by him to extort from them inappropriate images, the General Assembly found these complaints to be well-founded.

“The General Assembly noted with sadness the seriously adverse impact of this behaviour on the women concerned.

“The General Assembly abhors all such behaviour and, given its seriousness and the level of deceit involved, determined that, in this case, the only course open to it was to depose Mr Macdonald from the office of minister.

“Consequently, on Wednesday 22nd May 2024, the General Assembly solemnly deposed Mr David F. Macdonald from the office of the holy ministry.”

Previously, the General Assembly had said: “Our ministers and students are expected to live to the highest moral and ethical standards.

“Moreover, the Free Church takes very seriously any allegation that such standards have been compromised.

“We extend our support, sympathy and pastoral concern to the victim and all involved.”

At the time of his conviction, Procurator Fiscal for Grampian, Highland and Islands Andy Shanks said: “David Macdonald’s deliberate and persistent deceit caused his victim great distress.

“This prosecution should serve as a warning to others that we take crimes of this nature seriously.

“I would urge anyone who has been the victim of similar offending to come forward and seek support.”

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