Callum Taylor – Middlesbrough

A 35-year-old convicted paedophile who turned up in court dressed in pink and carrying a cuddly toy tried to book into an Aberdeen hotel with a false name.

Callum Taylor travelled from his home near Middlesbrough to the Granite City for a Christmas break, but police were alerted due to “safety concerns”.

Officers met him as he got off his train and discovered he was using secret bank cards and a false name – a breach of his sexual harm prevention order.

Taylor, who sexually assaulted a 12-year-old schoolgirl in 2009 and was convicted of making indecent images of children last year, arrived at Aberdeen Sheriff Court carrying a child’s backpack, a cuddly toy and cans of female deodorant.

His pink attire sparked a warning from his own solicitor, who urged him to wear more appropriate clothing.

The court was told Taylor travelled from his hometown of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, near Middlesbrough, to Aberdeen on December 22 last year.

As a convicted sex offender, Taylor had told his probation officers in Teesside of his travel plans and that he had booked into a hotel in Aberdeen city centre between December 22 and 27.

Taylor has to abide by certain rules, including informing police of all his bank accounts and credit cards.

Fiscal depute Claire Stewart told the court that Aberdeen officers intercepted Taylor at Aberdeen railway station due to “safety concerns”.

She said: “[Taylor] was searched and four bank cards were found.

“These were checked and it was confirmed he had failed to notify the police in relation to three of the cards.”

Taylor was placed on the sex offenders register at Teesside Crown Court most recently in 2025 for making indecent images of children and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.

He was handed a suspended prison sentence for eight months on October 29 2025.

Arrested for having secret bank cards
Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard Taylor was arrested on December 23 when his bank card breach was discovered and he appeared in court the following day.

Ms Stewart said: “[Taylor] was released on bail on December 24 2025.

“As part of his requirements, he attended at a local police station in Aberdeen to advise them of his intentions to stay at the Station Hotel.”

However, Taylor’s room at the hotel had since been released because he had not turned up to check in, so he found himself with nowhere to stay.

Taylor then disclosed to the officers that he was in the process of changing his name to Felix Parker.

Ms Stewart said: “In an effort to assist, officers conveyed [Taylor] to the hotel.

“Upon making enquiries at the hotel, staff confirmed that the accused had made an online booking under the name ‘Felix Parker’ on December 19 2025.

“This was a breach of his sexual harm prevention order that prohibits him using a false name whilst using the internet.”

Taylor’s accommodation problems were solved because he was arrested again and spent Christmas in custody.

He appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court for a second time on December 27 facing the second charge of breaching his SHPO.

Taylor arrived at the court this week wearing a pink hoodie with the word “LOVE” emblazoned on the front and a fluffy pink balaclava with ears.

He was also seen pushing a trolley containing a cuddly toy along Union Street and had a pink children’s bag on his back, which contained a number of cans of female deodorant.

His solicitor Michael Burnett previously warned his client to wear more formal attire to court.

Taylor took this advice, changing into grey and black leisure wear once he got inside the court building.

Mr Burnett explained there had been no “sinister reasons” for Taylor’s trip to Aberdeen, adding: “He came to Aberdeen for a holiday.

“Had he travelled to Aberdeen to commit an offence, he would not have told his probation officers about it.

“One of the bank cards found had a rainbow design on it and he simply liked the look of it, so he had kept it.”

Sheriff Craig Findlater warned Taylor he was “very much in the last chance saloon” and noted that he had never spent any time in prison.

He said: “You are making matters very difficult for yourself in the way that you carry on.

“You have never served a custodial sentence, albeit you have suspended sentences from England.

“This is at the lower end of the scale of breaching an order, but it is still very serious.

“The orders are there to protect, not just you, but the wider community.”

Sheriff Findlater said he was content – “just” – that a custodial sentence was not required.

He placed Taylor under a community payback order with a requirement to carry out 130 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to jail.

Taylor’s CPO will be transferred to Teesside Crown Court, and he must complete the work within 12 months.