ALAN KUSZ FROM KILWINNING SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ASSAULT ON ONE-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN KILWINNING AND GLASGOW

In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Kilwinning and the wider North Ayrshire area, Alan Kusz, aged 43, was convicted of a heinous sexual assault on a one-year-old girl. The incident took place in April 2018 at the child's family home in Kilwinning, a town known for its close-knit community but now marred by this grave crime.

Details emerged during the High Court proceedings in Glasgow, revealing the severity of the assault. The young victim, only 14 months old at the time, suffered injuries so severe that she required urgent surgical intervention. Medical professionals described her injuries as the most severe they had ever encountered in their careers. The trauma inflicted on her has left lasting physical and emotional scars, with her future development now uncertain.

Prosecutor Lisa Gillespie recounted the devastating impact on the child's mother, who was present during the attack. She described how the mother was overwhelmed with grief and distress upon discovering her daughter's injuries. The court heard that the attack occurred on the morning of April 9, 2018, a day the mother had planned for her daughter to be cared for by a childminder, only to be met with the horrifying reality of her child's condition.

Following the assault, police investigations quickly identified Kusz as a suspect. DNA evidence played a crucial role in linking him to the scene of the crime. Kusz, who was often in the company of the child and her mother, was arrested and taken into custody. During police interviews, he claimed that he had left the family home one evening to walk his dog and insisted that he returned to find the girl screaming. He attempted to shift blame onto the child's mother, suggesting that her injuries were caused by an incident he was not present for.

Despite his claims of innocence, the evidence against Kusz was compelling. The court heard that he denied any wrongdoing throughout the trial, maintaining that he was innocent of the charges. However, the jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting the young girl, resulting in her permanent impairment. The conviction was announced in June 2019, and Kusz was subsequently sentenced in July 2019 at the High Court in Edinburgh.

During the sentencing hearing, Lord Armstrong emphasized the vulnerability of the victim and the gravity of Kusz's actions. He highlighted Kusz's continued denial of responsibility and his limited empathy for the harm caused. The judge noted that Kusz displayed a lack of insight into his offending and posed a significant risk of re-offending in a similar manner. As a result, the court imposed a custodial sentence of ten years and ordered Kusz to be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Lord Armstrong also pointed out the profound negative impact the assault has had on the child's ongoing development, describing the physical and emotional trauma she endures as manifesting in her current state. The court's decision reflects society's strong condemnation of such conduct and underscores the importance of protecting vulnerable children from predators like Kusz. The sentence serves as a stark reminder that those who commit such crimes will face severe penalties once brought to justice, reinforcing the message that sexual abuse against children is met with zero tolerance.