Arrested in US, Scot accused of having sex with boy, 14
Officers swoop on woman’s room in luxury Florida hotel
A SCOTTISH woman has been arrested in Florida after being accused of having sex with a 14year-old boy in a hotel for cash.
Police say the boy made contact with Sarah Louise McGill after searching online for prostitutes last week.
The 28-year-old, from Galashiels, Selkirkshire, was arrested on Saturday at the Marriott Hotel in Orlando after police officers spoke to the boy and his father.
According to her social media profiles, McGill is a professional clinical hypnotherapist and runs her own business in Edinburgh.
The boy told police he had reached McGill, who was using the name ‘Sophia Belle’, on the website Quora.com, according to her arrest report.
It is alleged that McGill and the boy started texting each other before arranging to meet at the Marriott, where McGill took him to her room.
The arrest report filed by Orlando Police Department said the boy ‘explained that he made contact with an individual who went by the name of Sophia Belle, later identified by her United Kingdom passport as Sarah Louise McGill’.
The report said the boy ‘explained that McGill met him on the first floor near the elevator where she then brought him up to the room where he engaged in sexual intercourse with McGill’.
After they had sex, the boy said he paid McGill $480 (£339) in mixed denominations of $50 and $20 notes for her services and left the room.
Police said that after speaking to the boy and his father, authorities went to the same hotel room and found McGill there with another man.
They allegedly found condom wrappers, cash and unused condoms inside a safe in her room.
The report added: ‘McGill consented to a search of the safe in the hotel room where she was staying and signed a Consent to Search form. Upon opening the safe, multiple used condom wrappers, cash, unused condoms, vehicle keys and a paper bag were found inside the safe.
‘All the items except the vehicle keys that were recovered were placed into Orlando Police Department property and evidence. McGill’s black iPhone 8 Plus was also placed into Property and Evidence.’
After the boy and McGill were interviewed by detectives, McGill was arrested and charged with lewd or lascivious battery – more commonly known as statutory rape.
Under Florida’s penal code, McGill faces a jail sentence of up to 15 years or a fine of up to $10,000 (£7,000) if convicted.
She was freed on bail from Orange County Jail on Monday and ordered not to have any contact with the boy or engage in any online activity.
McGill was also ordered to surrender her UK passport.
McGill’s hypnotherapy website offers a ‘caring and confidential service’ for clients that ensures ‘absolute privacy and anonymity at all times’.
The business premises on St Colme Street in central Edinburgh were closed last night. The Georgian building, which houses multiple businesses including an accountancy firm, had no signage pertaining to McGill’s services.
But a website – now deleted – under the name ‘Sophia Belle’ advertised ‘companionship dates’ with clients around the world.
It stated: ‘I am based out of Edinburgh, but regularly travel to London and a few other select cities in the UK. I can frequently be found worldwide.
‘I enjoy visiting the US, Hong Kong, Singapore and Europe. Or anywhere with sunshine.
‘Throughout 2018, I will be available for exclusive fly me to you and companionship dates.’
In a section entitled ‘April – Orlando 4th til 9th’, the website advised: ‘Please note I am available on selected other dates in Orlando, please email for details or check Twitter for updated schedule.
‘Outcalls also available within the surrounding area with minimum 1.5/2 hour booking depending on distance.’
Last night there was no answer at McGill’s top-floor flat in Church Square, Galashiels, and the curtains were drawn throughout the property.
A neighbour said: ‘She goes away for long periods, perhaps a month at a time.’
‘I am available on selected dates’