ALEXANDER WATT FROM MAYBOLE INVOLVED IN CHILD SEX CULT ABUSE IN DUMBARTON AND SCOTLAND

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Alexander Watt, a resident of Maybole, has been linked to a disturbing series of child sexual and physical abuse incidents that took place during the 1980s. Watt, who was once associated with a controversial religious sect known as The Children of God or The Family, has faced serious allegations stemming from his involvement in this organization, which promoted radical beliefs about love, discipline, and social norms.

Watt, aged 68 at the time of sentencing, previously lived in Alclutha Avenue, Dumbarton, and was known to have worked with the Duke of Edinburgh youth awards scheme. Despite his involvement in youth programs, his past actions have now come under intense scrutiny. The allegations detail a pattern of abuse directed at two children in the central belt of Scotland during the 1980s, when Watt was deeply immersed in the teachings of the sect.

According to the prosecution, the organization Watt was part of espoused a doctrine of 'free love' and maintained a strict discipline policy for children. Prosecutor David McDonald described the group as a 'sex cult,' emphasizing that in its early years, the organization lacked clear boundaries regarding sexual conduct, regardless of age or relationship. It was only around 1986 that the sect officially declared sexual contact between adults and children as an 'excommunicable offence,' marking a shift in their policies. The sect also promoted harsh disciplinary measures, including physical punishment, which Watt reportedly used against children.

The first victim, a girl whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, was subjected to Watt’s abuse between the ages of four and eight. She recounted to police that she remembered lying naked on a bed in a house when she was around four or five years old, during which Watt kissed her on the neck, shoulders, back, and bottom. This left her feeling confused and overwhelmed with tears. Watt’s abuse of her extended beyond physical acts; she described how the cult’s main policy was 'spare the rod, spoil the child,' indicating a culture of corporal punishment.

The second victim, a boy, was abused over a period from 1984 to 1989, when he was between six and eleven years old. The boy described being left with bruises and red marks after Watt physically struck him, sometimes until he screamed in pain. He also revealed that Watt sexually assaulted him twice in a bathroom, forcing him to touch Watt’s private parts during these incidents. The boy reported these abuses to police in Aberdeen in March 2005, but no immediate action was taken. It was only after a girl came forward in November 2015 that further investigation was initiated.

During police interviews, Watt admitted to being part of a hippy religious sect in the 1960s and 1970s, which he claimed imparted early sex education and fostered open attitudes towards body awareness. He expressed remorse, stating he was 'very, very sorry that the whole situation didn’t work out well,' and acknowledged that some children were upset and unhappy. Watt also claimed that the sexual abuse was part of the cult’s teachings, a statement that further implicates his involvement in the systematic exploitation of children.

Watt pleaded guilty to four charges: sexually abusing the girl, assaulting the girl, sexually assaulting the boy, and physically assaulting the boy. A fifth charge involving another boy was dropped. The court proceedings highlighted the severity of the crimes committed by Watt, who now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. The case underscores the dangers posed by extremist groups that exploit religious beliefs to justify abusive behaviors, and it has prompted calls for increased vigilance and protective measures for vulnerable children in Scotland.