ADRIAN MCKINNON'S HORRIFIC ABUSE IN CREWKERNE AND BEYOND: 18-YEAR SENTENCE FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST GIRLS

In October 2018, a disturbing case of long-term sexual abuse was brought to a close at Gloucester Crown Court, where Adrian McKinnon, a 63-year-old man from East Street, Crewkerne, Somerset, was sentenced to serve 18 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes committed over a span of five years. The court heard that McKinnon had engaged in a pattern of sexual misconduct involving two young girls, with offenses taking place across multiple locations including Gloucester, Worcester, and Leeds.

During a five-day trial, a jury composed of seven women and five men deliberated for over seven and a half hours before reaching their verdict. McKinnon was acquitted of three charges but found guilty of 11 others, including two counts of rape. The judge, Ian Lawrie QC, expressed his belief that McKinnon had committed more rapes than those proven in court, stating, “I have little doubt that you raped her on more occasions than just these two.”

Most of the convictions pertained to a single victim, with only one charge of indecent assault relating to the second girl. The court established that McKinnon had sexually assaulted the second girl by forcing her to touch him. The judge emphasized the severity of his crimes, describing him as “an offender of concern,” and ordered that he serve half of his sentence before being considered for parole. Furthermore, McKinnon was informed that he would be on the sex offenders register for life.

Prosecutor David Scutt outlined the case at the trial’s opening, describing how McKinnon’s initial misconduct involved touching the older girl’s naked chest, which he characterized as the beginning of a progression towards more serious sexual offenses. The prosecutor explained that this behavior was part of grooming, with McKinnon visiting the girl’s home regularly, and that she felt safe at school because he could not reach her there. The girl would often hide in nearby woods, seeking refuge from her abuser, but McKinnon would find her and continue his abuse in those secluded areas. The court was shown evidence that McKinnon would hold a pillow over her face during assaults and threaten her with harm if she disclosed the abuse, telling her no one would believe her and that she would be sent away.

The abuse escalated over time, culminating in at least two rapes. The second girl’s account was also detailed, including an incident where McKinnon made her touch him. She recounted that when she was just eight years old, they were watching TV together when he began tickling her arms and asked her to tickle his stomach. She described how he then pushed her hand down his trousers, which she recognized as wrong, and she quickly pulled away and ran to the bathroom. The court also reviewed a police interview from 2016, where the second victim described her feelings of fear, shame, and despair, revealing her thoughts of self-harm and her ongoing struggles with trust and intimacy due to the trauma inflicted by McKinnon.

In her police interview, she recounted how she would hide in the woods, lying inside a large log to escape her abuser, but he would still find her and continue to assault her there. She described feeling trapped and overwhelmed, contemplating ending her life because she felt unsafe everywhere. Her account painted a harrowing picture of the lasting psychological scars left by McKinnon’s actions, including her inability to form relationships or engage in intimacy without fear. She expressed that the pillow over her face was a constant element of her trauma, and she still reacts with panic if anyone approaches her with a pillow today.

The second victim also testified about a specific incident where McKinnon made her touch him. She explained that she was only eight years old at the time, and during a moment when they were watching TV, he asked her to tickle his stomach. When she felt uncomfortable, he pushed her hand down his trousers, which she recognized as wrong. She managed to pull her hand away and ran to the bathroom, indicating her clear understanding that his behavior was inappropriate.

McKinnon took the stand in his defense on Wednesday, denying the allegations of touching the first victim’s chest and calling her a “special girl.” He insisted he had never abused or interfered with her and denied ever holding a pillow over her face. Regarding the second victim’s accusations, he claimed he did not do what she described. When questioned about the allegations from the second woman, he repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Following the convictions, the second victim delivered an emotional statement in court, describing how McKinnon’s abuse has affected her life and her relationships with her children. She expressed relief at finally finding justice, stating, “Today I found justice. When I leave court I will finally find closure. I refuse to be his victim any more.”

The first victim chose not to read her statement aloud, but it was read by prosecutor David Scutt. She conveyed her ongoing fear, feelings of guilt, and the sense of living in a personal hell, saying, “I still feel a tremendous fear, that someone is going to get me. I have lived my whole life in hell. I feel dirty. He has made me feel guilty. I was screaming inside but no one could hear me. I still struggle.”

Judge Ian Lawrie QC sentenced McKinnon to 18 years in prison, emphasizing the devastating impact of his crimes. The judge described the offenses as a calculated process involving grooming and intimidation, which left his victims psychologically scarred for life. He noted that both victims had received extensive therapy and would require ongoing support. The court’s ruling reflected the seriousness of McKinnon’s actions and the lasting harm inflicted upon his victims, underscoring the importance of justice in such cases.