Robert Taylor Livingston Encounter

The Robert Taylor incident is unique in UFO history: it is the only case in Scotland where police opened a criminal investigation into an alleged UFO encounter. A respected forestry worker was found unconscious with physical injuries, his clothes torn, and ground traces at the scene. The case remains officially unsolved.

November 9, 1979

Robert Taylor was a 61-year-old forestry worker employed by the Livingston Development Corporation in Scotland. On the morning of November 9, 1979, he drove his truck to Dechmont Woods near Livingston to inspect a section of forest.

The Location: A clearing in Dechmont Woods, approximately 500 meters from the M8 motorway.

The Time: Approximately 10:30 AM.

The Weather: Clear, cold morning.

Alone: Taylor was working alone with his dog.

The Encounter

Taylor walked into a clearing and encountered something extraordinary:

The Main Object: A large spherical or dome-shaped object, approximately 20 feet in diameter, hovering just above the ground. It appeared to be made of dark gray metallic material with a rough texture, like sandpaper.

The Rim: A flange or rim ran around the object’s equator.

Transparency: Parts of the object appeared to shimmer or become transparent, as if attempting to camouflage.

The Small Spheres: Two smaller objects, described as like sea mines with protruding spikes, emerged from the main craft.

The Attack

What happened next was violent:

The Approach: The small spheres rolled toward Taylor rapidly.

Physical Contact: They attached themselves to his trouser legs using their spike-like protrusions.

The Drag: Taylor was pulled toward the main object.

The Smell: He noticed a strong, acrid odor that made him feel like he was choking.

Loss of Consciousness: Taylor blacked out.

The Aftermath

Taylor regained consciousness alone in the clearing:

Duration Unknown: He didn’t know how long he’d been unconscious.

Physical State: He was face-down on the ground, feeling ill.

The Object Gone: The craft and small spheres had vanished.

His Dog: His dog was running in circles, barking frantically.

Unable to Speak: He had temporarily lost his voice and couldn’t call for help.

Vehicle Problems: His truck was stuck in soft ground.

The Physical Evidence

The incident left physical traces:

Torn Trousers: Taylor’s work trousers had two tears on each leg, consistent with being grabbed and pulled.

Ground Marks: At the scene, investigators found:

• Two “ladder-like” track marks
• Approximately 40 circular holes in the ground, arranged in a pattern
• Marks consistent with the attachment points Taylor described

Personal Injury: Taylor had scrapes on his chin and thighs consistent with being dragged.

The Police Investigation

This case was unique - Scottish police opened a criminal investigation:

Crime Reported: Taylor’s employers reported an assault.

CID Investigation: Lothian and Borders Police CID investigated.

Physical Evidence Collected: Trousers were taken as evidence. Ground samples were collected.

Witnesses Interviewed: Taylor and others were formally interviewed.

Conclusion: Unable to identify any assailant, the case was closed as unsolved.

Robert Taylor’s Credibility

Taylor was considered an exemplary witness:

Character: He was known as a quiet, reliable, and honest man.

Employment: He had worked for the Development Corporation for many years with an excellent record.

No UFO Interest: He had no prior interest in or knowledge of UFOs.

Reluctance: He was reluctant to discuss the incident and never sought publicity.

Consistency: His account never changed in any significant detail.

Health: He was sober, in good health, and showed no signs of mental illness.

The Investigation Findings

The investigation revealed:

No Conventional Explanation: No hoax evidence was found.

Physical Correlation: The ground marks matched Taylor’s description of the objects.

Trouser Damage: The tears were consistent with his account.

No Perpetrator: No human assailant was identified.

Case Unsolved: The file was closed without resolution.

Attempts at Explanation

Various theories have been proposed:

Ball Lightning: A rare electrical phenomenon. However, ball lightning doesn’t leave systematic ground marks or tear clothing in the manner described.

Epileptic Seizure: Taylor might have had a seizure and hallucinated. However, he had no history of epilepsy, and this doesn’t explain the physical evidence.

Hoax: Taylor fabricated the story. This is inconsistent with his character, the physical evidence, and his lifelong consistency.

Genuine Encounter: Taylor experienced exactly what he described - something unexplained.

Robert Taylor’s Life After

Taylor lived quietly after the incident:

Continued Work: He returned to work and lived a normal life.

Avoided Publicity: He rarely gave interviews and never sought attention.

Maintained Account: When asked, he always maintained his story.

Death: Taylor died in 2007, still maintaining his account.

The Dechmont Law

The site gained a permanent memorial:

Memorial Plaque: A plaque was installed at the location.

Local Recognition: The site is known to locals and UFO researchers.

Preserved: The clearing is still identifiable.

Legacy

The Robert Taylor incident is significant because:

• It is the only UFO case to generate a criminal investigation in Scotland
• Physical evidence (torn clothes, ground traces) corroborated the account
• The witness was highly credible with no motive to fabricate
• Police investigation found no conventional explanation
• The case remains officially unsolved

Whatever happened to Robert Taylor in that Scottish clearing, it left marks on the ground, tears in his clothes, and a mystery that has never been solved.

Sources

• Lothian and Borders Police investigation records
• Malcolm Robinson investigation
• Witness testimony
• Robert Taylor incident - Wikipedia