AARON ROSS FROM MUSSELBURGH ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON TEENAGERS IN EAST LOTHIAN

In a case that has shocked the community of Musselburgh, East Lothian, Aaron Ross, a teenage male, was involved in a series of serious sexual offenses against young girls, with the incidents occurring within a short span of time in August 2012. Despite the gravity of his actions, Ross, who was only 14 years old at the time of the first assault, managed to avoid a custodial sentence, instead receiving a supervised community-based order from the High Court in Edinburgh.

On August 10, 2012, Ross committed a heinous sexual assault on a 12-year-old girl in Musselburgh, just ten days after he had indecently assaulted a 13-year-old girl. The court proceedings revealed that Ross had targeted his first victim in the grounds of Pinkie Primary School, a well-known local educational institution. During the attack, he forcibly seized the girl by the arm, causing her to sit on his knee, and then proceeded to attempt to kiss her and solicit a sex act. He also made inappropriate physical advances, which caused significant distress to the young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The following week, on August 10, Ross engaged in a second serious sexual assault, this time at a location near Ladywell in Musselburgh. He forced his second victim into nearby bushes and subjected her to a sexual assault. Ross admitted to having sex with her but claimed that the encounter was consensual, asserting that the girl had been drinking and wanted to have sex with him. The girl was visibly upset and crying after the incident, but Ross denied that her tears were caused by his actions. During cross-examination, he insisted that she was only slightly intoxicated and that she had wanted to engage in sexual activity.

Ross, who was employed at Musselburgh Racecourse at the time, was convicted of these charges following a week-long trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. The jury found him guilty of both sexual assault and rape, despite his initial pleas of not guilty. The court heard detailed accounts of how Ross had targeted his victims, seizing them by the arm and making inappropriate advances, with the second victim being forced into bushes for the assault.

Throughout the proceedings, Ross’s defense argued that he was immature regarding sexual matters and that his mental age was younger than his actual age. The court also considered reports indicating that Ross was not suitable for detention in custody, citing concerns that he could become hardened through association with adult prisoners. Additionally, the reports highlighted his struggle to comprehend the seriousness of his offending behavior and the potential for him to develop into a hardened criminal if incarcerated.

In sentencing, the judge, Lady Clark, acknowledged the serious distress caused to the victims but emphasized that, under the law, an alternative to imprisonment must be considered for offenders under 21. She ordered Ross to be supervised for three years and mandated his attendance at the Good Lives Project, a therapy scheme designed to help offenders understand and manage their behavior. Furthermore, she restricted Ross’s social interactions with females under 16 to only include his younger sister. The court also scheduled a review hearing for April 16, 2014, to assess his compliance with the court orders.

Lady Clark made it clear that the community payback order was a punishment for his crimes, but she also stressed the importance of rehabilitation. She stated, “You should not be under any illusions – the community payback order is a punishment for the crimes that you have been convicted of.” The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Musselburgh, raising concerns about youth offending and the importance of appropriate intervention and supervision for juvenile offenders.