BRIAN LOCKE'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN LIVINGSTON: CHILD ABUSER SENTENCED TO 4.5 YEARS IN JAIL

In a deeply disturbing case that has shocked the community of Livingston, a man named Brian Locke was convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young girls over a period spanning nearly a decade. The victims, who are now adults, expressed their relief and a sense of justice being served as Locke was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at Livingston Sheriff Court.

During the court proceedings, the victims, visibly emotional, wept openly and embraced each other as Sheriff Donald Muirhead read out the sentence. The courtroom was filled with a mixture of relief and sorrow, as the gravity of Locke’s actions was laid bare. Outside the court, one of the victims, a 23-year-old woman, spoke to reporters, stating, “It’s not closure but it is a start. I hope he rots in prison — we all share that view. I’m delighted at what everyone at the Procurator Fiscal’s office and Sheriff Court have done for us. Justice has been done but there was a fear it would not be. To see him led away in handcuffs was a great moment for us all.”

Brian Locke, a resident of Livingston, was found guilty by a majority verdict on eight counts involving lewd, indecent, and libidinous acts committed against underage girls between 1996 and 2004. The court heard that Locke, who was 59 at the time of sentencing, had exploited his position by offering free childminding services to families in Livingston, creating an environment that appeared safe and trustworthy. This facade allowed him to carry out repeated sexual abuses on the children, often while they were in his home, watching horror movies rated for adults, under a brightly colored sleeping bag on his sofa.

One of the victims recounted how years after the abuse, she decided to report Locke to the police, which triggered a comprehensive investigation. This investigation ultimately led to Locke’s arrest and subsequent conviction. Prosecutor Paul Beaton described Locke as a “serious sexual predator” who had engaged in “hundreds of instances” of abuse, taking advantage of the trust placed in him by parents and the community.

The evidence presented in court painted a disturbing picture of Locke’s manipulative behavior. He had created an illusion of safety, which convinced parents to leave their children in his care, unaware of his true intentions. The prosecution emphasized that Locke’s actions were driven by his own sick sexual desires, which he pursued over many years, causing lasting harm to his victims.

Throughout the trial, Locke’s defense highlighted his mental health issues, with his solicitor, Ian Bryce, explaining that Locke had been diagnosed with severe depression and suffered from anxiety, which affected his cognitive abilities. Bryce argued that Locke’s limited social interactions and his tendency to live in a “world of his own” should be considered when determining his sentence. He suggested that alternatives to imprisonment, such as probation and community service, might be appropriate given Locke’s mental health conditions.

However, Sheriff Muirhead expressed that, despite these mitigating factors, the severity of Locke’s crimes left no choice but to impose a custodial sentence. The sheriff stated, “You behaved in this way for what I must assume was your own sexual gratification with no thought of your victims. The end result is the corruption of the children involved and the consequences can be long lasting, deep and far reaching.”

While acknowledging Locke’s health issues and lack of prior criminal record, Sheriff Muirhead emphasized that Locke’s actions involved children who were not related to him, and that he had been trusted by the community to provide childcare. The sheriff concluded that Locke’s conduct was driven by a desire to exploit young girls, which justified the prison sentence to protect the community and serve justice.