The Farriers Registration Council has struck off a Scottish farrier following historic sexual offences.
Malcolm Sloss, 72, was found guilty of six serious sexual assaults, one sexual assault, and other sexual offences, following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2025.
This week, the Farriers Registration Council removed Sloss from its professional register, meaning he can no longer practice in Great Britain, following a disciplinary committee ruling.
The Council was represented by solicitor Catriona Watt, who said a number of aggravating features were present and should be taken into account.
These included the nature and extent of Sloss’ offending behaviour, the fact that at least one victim was a young woman he had come in contact with through his work, his continued denial of guilt and the risk he poses to women and girls – both clients, and members of the public at large.
The only mitigating factor, she said, was his lack of any previous regulatory history.
The Committee “considered that the seriousness of the defender’s conviction was such that no sanction other than removal from the Register was sufficient to protect the public, protect the reputation of the profession and regulator and the wider public interest.
“The Committee considered that the defender’s offending behaviour […] was fundamentally incompatible with him being a Registered Farrier” and that Sloss was guilty of serious misconduct in a professional respect.
They concluded that his name should be removed from the Register.
Sloss’ offences took place between 1988 and 2021 and involved several woman and girls in Argyll and Bute.
“Sloss preyed on vulnerable females for a number of years and subjected his victims to horrific sexual assaults,” said Detective Inspector Peter MacMillan at the time of sentencing.
“He will now face the consequences of his actions.”
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