Dechmont Law Encounter
On November 9, 1979, forestry worker Robert Taylor encountered a spherical UFO in a clearing near Livingston, Scotland. As he approached, smaller spheres attacked him, tearing his trousers and leaving him unconscious. He awoke with torn clothing, physical injuries, and strange marks on the ground. Police investigated it as an assault by person or persons unknown - Scotland's only UFO case treated as a criminal matter.
The Dechmont Law encounter stands as one of the most physically violent and well-documented UFO cases in history. A Scottish forestry worker encountered something in the woods that attacked him, leaving physical evidence, and resulting in what may be the only UFO incident ever investigated as a criminal assault. The case remains unexplained and is commemorated with a memorial at the site.
November 9, 1979
Robert Taylor was working in Dechmont Woods:
Robert Taylor, 61, a forestry worker for the Livingston Development Corporation, was working in Dechmont Woods.
Location: Dechmont Law, a small hill with woodland near Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland.
The location was Dechmont Law, a small hill with woodland near Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland.
Activity: Taylor was checking tree gates and boundaries as part of his regular work.
Taylor was checking tree gates and boundaries as part of his regular work.
Time: Late morning, around 10:30 AM.
The time of the encounter was late morning, around 10:30 AM.
Companion: His red setter dog was with him.
His red setter dog was with him.
The Clearing
Taylor entered a clearing and stopped in shock:
Taylor entered a clearing and stopped in shock.
The Object: A large, dark grey spherical object sat in the clearing.
In the clearing, a large, dark grey spherical object sat.
Size: Approximately 20 feet in diameter.
The object’s diameter was approximately 20 feet.
Appearance: The surface seemed to shimmer, as if trying to become invisible.
The surface of the sphere seemed to shimmer, as if trying to become invisible.
Texture: The sphere had a rough texture, like emery paper.
The sphere had a rough texture, like emery paper.
Ring: A protruding rim or flange ran around its circumference.
A protruding rim or flange ran around its circumference.
The Attack
The encounter turned violent:
Two smaller spherical objects, like sea mines with protruding spikes, dropped from the main object.
Two smaller spherical objects, resembling sea mines with protruding spikes, dropped from the main object.
Approach: These spheres rolled rapidly toward Taylor.
These spheres rolled rapidly toward Taylor.
Attachment: They attached themselves to his trouser legs.
They attached themselves to his trouser legs.
The Smell: An overwhelming acrid smell, like burning automobile brake linings, filled the air.
An overwhelming acrid smell, like burning automobile brake linings, filled the air.
Collapse: Taylor lost consciousness.
Taylor lost consciousness.
The Aftermath
Taylor awoke alone in the clearing:
Approximately 20 minutes had passed.
Approximately 20 minutes had passed.
The Objects: The spheres and main craft were gone.
The spheres and main craft were gone.
His Condition: He had difficulty breathing and could not stand properly.
He had difficulty breathing and could not stand properly.
His Dog: His dog was running around him frantically, barking.
His dog was running around him frantically, barking.
Physical Damage: His trousers were torn where the spheres had attached.
His trousers were torn where the spheres had attached.
Getting Home
Taylor struggled to reach help:
His truck wouldn’t start - he apparently tried to drive and ran it into soft ground.
His truck wouldn’t start; he apparently tried to drive and ran it into soft ground.
The Walk: He had to walk home, staggering and falling repeatedly.
He had to walk home, staggering and falling repeatedly.
His Wife: Mary Taylor found him muddy, distressed, with torn clothes.
His wife, Mary Taylor, found him muddy, distressed, with torn clothes.
Initial Report: He told her a “spherical object” had attacked him.
He told her a “spherical object” had attacked him.
Police Investigation
The case was treated as a crime:
Lothian and Borders Police investigated it as assault by person or persons unknown.
Lothian and Borders Police investigated it as assault by person or persons unknown.
Scene Examination: Officers examined the clearing and found physical evidence.
Officers examined the clearing and found physical evidence.
The Marks: Strange ladder-shaped marks and round holes were found in the ground.
Strange ladder-shaped marks and round holes were found in the ground.
Forensic Analysis: Taylor’s torn trousers were examined forensically.
Taylor’s torn trousers were examined forensically.
Physical Evidence
The evidence was compelling:
Two ladder-shaped tracks and approximately 40 round holes were found in the clearing.
Two ladder-shaped tracks and approximately 40 round holes were found in the clearing.
The Trousers: Taylor’s heavy-duty work trousers were torn in a manner consistent with something being pulled up toward his hips.
Taylor’s heavy-duty work trousers were torn in a manner consistent with something being pulled up toward his hips.
The Tears: The tears were made by pulling or tugging, not cutting.
The tears were made by pulling or tugging, not cutting.
Soil Analysis: Soil samples were taken but revealed nothing unusual.
Soil samples were taken but revealed nothing unusual.
Medical Examination
Taylor was examined by doctors:
He had grazes on his chin and thighs.
He had grazes on his chin and thighs.
Headache: He suffered a severe headache for hours afterward.
He suffered a severe headache for hours afterward.
Thirst: He experienced extreme thirst.
He experienced extreme thirst.
Recovery: His physical symptoms cleared within a day or two.
His physical symptoms cleared within a day or two.
Mental State: He was found to be of sound mind and completely sincere.
He was found to be of sound mind and completely sincere.
The Witness
Robert Taylor was highly credible:
A respected, long-serving forestry worker with an excellent reputation was known as practical, honest, and not given to fantasy.
A respected, long-serving forestry worker with an excellent reputation was known as practical, honest, and not given to fantasy.
Reluctance: He was embarrassed by the attention and wished it hadn’t happened.
He was embarrassed by the attention and wished it hadn’t happened.
Consistency: His story never changed in any detail until his death.
His story never changed in any detail until his death.
No Profit: He never sought or received financial gain from his experience.
He never sought or received financial gain from his experience.
Official Response
The authorities took it seriously:
A police file remains open on the case as an unsolved assault.
A police file remains open on the case as an unsolved assault.
No Charges: No charges were ever filed as no perpetrator was identified.
No charges were ever filed as no perpetrator was identified.
Documentation: The case is officially documented as a criminal matter.
The case is officially documented as a criminal matter.
Unusual Status: It may be the only UFO encounter treated as a criminal case.
It may be the only UFO encounter treated as a criminal case.
Attempted Explanations
Various theories have been proposed:
An unusual electrical phenomenon.
An unusual electrical phenomenon. This doesn’t explain the structured craft or the attack.
Epileptic Seizure: Taylor may have had a seizure. His previous medical history shows no epilepsy, and it doesn’t explain the physical evidence.
Taylor may have had a seizure. His previous medical history shows no epilepsy, and it doesn’t explain the physical evidence.
Hoax: Taylor fabricated the story. His character, the physical evidence, and lifelong consistency argue against this.
Taylor fabricated the story. His character, the physical evidence, and lifelong consistency argue against this.
Something Unknown: The most honest assessment may be that something unexplained occurred.
The most honest assessment may be that something unexplained occurred.
The Dog
Taylor’s dog provides additional witness:
The dog was reportedly terrified and highly agitated.
The dog was reportedly terrified and highly agitated.
Barking: It ran around Taylor frantically when he awoke.
It ran around Taylor frantically when he awoke.
Corroboration: While it couldn’t testify, the dog’s behavior suggested something alarming had happened.
While it couldn’t testify, the dog’s behavior suggested something alarming had happened.
The Memorial
Livingston now commemorates the event:
A sculpture was erected near the site.
A sculpture was erected near the site.
Trail: A walking trail leads to the encounter location.
A walking trail leads to the encounter location.
Tourism: The site attracts UFO enthusiasts and curious visitors.
The site attracts UFO enthusiasts and curious visitors.
Local History: The encounter is part of Livingston’s official history.
The encounter is part of Livingston’s official history.
Legacy
The Dechmont Law encounter matters because:
Physical evidence was found and documented by police
Physical evidence was found and documented by police
- A criminal investigation file exists
A criminal investigation file exists
- The witness was credible and consistent until his death
The witness was credible and consistent until his death
- Physical traces on his clothing were forensically examined
Physical traces on his clothing were forensically examined
- It represents one of the most violent physical UFO encounters on record
It represents one of the most violent physical UFO encounters on record
Whatever Robert Taylor encountered in that Scottish clearing in 1979, it left marks on the ground, tears in his clothing, and an officially unsolved assault case that remains open decades later.
Sources
- Wikipedia search: “Dechmont Law Encounter”
- CIA UFO/UAP Reading Room — Declassified CIA documents on UAP
- UK National Archives — UFO Files — MoD UFO investigation records
- British Newspaper Archive — UK press archive