Scottish soft play boss jailed for 25 years in US over child sexual abuse material

A former soft play boss from Glasgow has been jailed for 25 years in the United States for transporting and possessing child sexual abuse material.

Steven Paul McInally, of Tollcross, was arrested at Orlando International Airport in Florida on August 25, 2023, after arriving on holiday and being subjected to a border search.

Law enforcement found child sexual abuse material on his mobile phone, including images of minors.

Steven McInally Brevard County Sheriff’s Office

A forensic review from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida revealed an estimated 3,900 images and 70 videos of child sexual abuse material on his phone.

It is understood that McInally previously owned the Go Wild soft play unit in Bridgeton, which welcomed hundreds of children every week.

The case was investigated by the US Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations.

US District Judge Wendy D. Berger sentenced the 36-year-old to 25 years in federal prison for transporting and possessing child sexual abuse material after pleading guilty on November 1, 2024.

A spokesperson said: “This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.

“Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Following an investigation, a 36-year-old man was subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal in connection with offences under the Sexual Offences Scotland Act 2009.”