EDINBURGH MAN SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF UNDERAGE GIRLS
Update believed to be living in Linlithgow Craig McWilliams, aged 39 from Armadale, was convicted and sentenced for a series of serious sexual offenses against underage girls.He plead guilty on September 30, 2024, to multiple charges of sexually abusing and engaging in sexual intercourse with three females under the age of 16 between September 2004 and April 2008.
He also admitted to using lewd and libidinous behaviors against these victims, who were aged between 14 and 15 at the time.
The first charges involved two incidents in September 2004 and July 2005, when Craig was 19 and his victim was 14.
The second set of charges related to incidents in June 2005 and June 2006 when Craig was 19 and 20, and the victims were aged 15.
The third set involved January 2007 and April 2008, when Craig was 21 and 22, and the victims were 15.
One of the survivors described how Craig groomed her over nearly a decade, taking her to different locations such as Broxburn and Livingston, often involving cannabis and alcohol.
She detailed how she was manipulated into trusting him despite initial resistance.
Craig was sentenced on October 21, 2024, to 18 months imprisonment, with notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for a period of 10 years.
The judge considered the legal guidelines at the time of the crimes, which resulted in a comparatively short sentence.
The survivor expressed feelings of frustration and disappointment, highlighting that if the crimes had been committed today, the sentence would likely have been longer.
She felt that Craig benefited from the legal system and criticized the lighter sentence she believed he received for the lifelong trauma he inflicted.
