ANDREW LEES FROM FALKIRK SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC ABUSE OF 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN GLASGOW

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Andrew Lees, a 63-year-old man from Falkirk, has been sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl over a prolonged period. The heinous acts took place over four years, beginning in 2008, and involved a pattern of grooming, manipulation, and repeated sexual assaults.

During the trial at the High Court in Glasgow, it was revealed that Lees engaged in a series of disturbing behaviors aimed at sexually exploiting the young girl. His actions included inappropriate touching, grooming behaviors, and the showing of pornographic films to the victim. The court heard that Lees's first act of sexual assault occurred when the girl was just 11 years old, with him telling her afterward, “That was great,” in a chilling indication of his predatory attitude.

Following this initial incident, Lees continued to assault the girl, with the frequency increasing to almost every weekend after a brief period of a week or two. The girl, who was too young to fully understand what was happening, described her feelings during these assaults as lying there, feeling confused, scared, and petrified. Her emotional trauma was so severe that she eventually confided in her mother last year, leading to police involvement and a thorough investigation.

Judge Lord Turnbull, presiding over the case, condemned Lees’s actions in his sentencing remarks. He stated, “Your behaviour, which was described to me, involved the most appalling catalogue of persistent grooming and sexual abuse of a young girl over a period of years commencing when she was only 11. You treated this young girl as your own sexual possession.” The judge’s words underscored the gravity of Lees’s misconduct and the devastating impact on the victim.

When questioned by police, Lees initially denied the allegations, claiming, “That’s unbelievable. That’s untrue. I don’t know where that’s coming from.” However, he later admitted to the abuse, asserting that “it just happened” and attempting to justify his actions by suggesting they had been in a sexual relationship. His defense lawyer, Lorenzo Alonzi, highlighted that Lees had worked diligently throughout most of his life and had no previous convictions of a similar nature, attempting to mitigate the severity of his crimes.

Lees’s crimes have left a lasting scar on the young girl and serve as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and protection for vulnerable children. His sentencing reflects the judicial system’s stance on such egregious violations of trust and innocence, emphasizing that justice must be served to protect society from individuals who commit such heinous acts.