ANDREW TEMPLE FROM LOANHEAD SENTENCED FOR YEARS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN MIDLOTHIAN AND FORT WILLIAM

In a harrowing case that spanned over a decade, Andrew Temple, a 53-year-old man from George Terrace in Loanhead, was sentenced to prison after being found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a young girl and other boys. The crimes, which took place across various locations in Midlothian and Fort William, have left a lasting scar on the victims and have drawn significant attention from law enforcement and the judicial system.

Temple’s abuse of the girl began in 1996 when she was only eight years old. Over the course of eight years, he subjected her to a disturbing pattern of sexual misconduct, including rape and indecent acts. The assaults occurred at multiple addresses, including in Easthouses and Dalkeith in Midlothian, as well as at Belford Hospital in Fort William, where the girl was being treated at the time. The abuse persisted until around 2004. In addition to his crimes against the girl, Temple also targeted two young boys, aged eight and six, during the 1990s, engaging in indecent behavior towards them.

Despite the severity of the allegations, Temple initially denied all charges during his trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. However, after a thorough trial process, the jury convicted him of seven counts, including two charges of rape, three counts of indecent behavior towards the girl, and two additional offenses of indecency involving the boys. The conviction marked a significant step in delivering justice for the victims who endured years of abuse.

The female victim, now aged 31, first reported her experiences to police in 2003. At that time, she was told there was insufficient evidence to proceed with charges. She later re-engaged with law enforcement in 2010, during a period when she was experiencing severe emotional distress and had attempted suicide three times. She expressed her frustration and desperation, stating, “I just thought ‘enough is enough’. Something needs to be done.”

Her efforts to seek justice continued, and in 2014, she contacted authorities in England. During this process, she provided a detailed letter describing the abuse she suffered at Temple’s hands. In her statement, she recounted how Temple began touching her and coerced her into performing sexual acts, including full intercourse. She remembered him offering her cider, which she drank until she felt “funny and sick,” and how he eventually pulled down her trousers and raped her. She described the pain and her desire for him to stop, but he persisted. After the assault, Temple returned and asked if she liked it, to which she responded “yes,” out of fear. He then warned her not to tell anyone about what had happened.

Following his conviction, Judge Robert Weir QC ordered Temple to be placed on the sex offenders’ register. Throughout the legal proceedings, Temple was on bail but was remanded into custody pending the preparation of a background report. Sentencing is scheduled for the following month, and Temple remains in custody as authorities continue their assessment of his case.