DUNCAN FRASER'S HORRIFIC CHILD SEX ABUSE IN GILBERDYKE, OBAN, AND WITHERNSEA

In June 2009, a disturbing case concluded with the sentencing of Duncan Fraser, a man with ties to Gilberdyke, Oban, and Withernsea, who was convicted of a series of heinous sexual offenses against young girls. Fraser, aged 50 at the time, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison after a lengthy investigation uncovered a pattern of vile sexual assaults spanning over two decades.

Fraser, a trained market gardener, systematically preyed on four young girls aged between seven and 11, with his crimes stretching from 1971 to 1992. The abuse was not confined to a single location but took place across various towns and villages in the East Riding of Yorkshire, including Beverley, Withernsea, and Gilberdyke, where Fraser had resided during the period of his offending. The court heard that Fraser’s assaults involved sexually abusing the victims, often simulating sex or coercing them into performing acts on him. His predatory behavior was characterized by manipulation and threats, with one victim recalling how Fraser threatened to take her away from her family if she reported the abuse, instilling terror and silence.

Fraser pleaded guilty to eight counts of indecent assault and seven counts of indecency with a child. Originally, he faced a total of 30 charges, but the remaining charges were left on file, indicating a plea deal or a decision to focus on the most serious allegations. The court was told that Fraser’s offending began when he was still a teenager, with his first known attack occurring in Withernsea between 1973 and 1976, where he assaulted a girl under 11 while babysitting. Further offenses included an incident on a beach trip between 1976 and 1978, where Fraser asked a girl to lie about being sick on her clothing if questioned about her stained attire.

Throughout the 1980s, Fraser’s criminal activities continued as he moved to different locations. He resided on Neville Avenue in Beverley, where he committed multiple assaults on a girl under 10 between 1983 and 1986, involving simulated sex acts and physical resistance from the victim. She later provided a victim impact statement, revealing that although she harbored no hatred for Fraser, her decision to report was motivated by a desire to protect others from similar harm.

Following his time in Beverley, Fraser’s family operated a petrol station at Kirkburn near Driffield, where he also ran a market garden at the rear of the property. During this period, between 1986 and 1988, he assaulted another young girl in a greenhouse. His criminal pattern persisted as he moved to Gilberdyke, where he continued to abuse young children. Between 1988 and 1992, Fraser incited a girl under 10 to perform a sex act on him in a greenhouse, with four separate offenses committed against her between the ages of seven and nine. Despite the severity of his crimes, Fraser was never questioned at the time, and he managed to rebuild his life in Scotland, living in Oban, before the case was finally brought to light last year.

The investigation was extensive, with detectives traveling to Scotland to gather evidence. The crimes remained undetected until one of Fraser’s victims reported the abuse to the police, leading to his arrest and subsequent prosecution. During the court proceedings, Fraser showed no remorse and avoided eye contact with the victims’ families, who had come to witness the sentencing. The families sat in the public gallery, visibly distressed as Fraser was sentenced.

His defense lawyer, John Thackray, highlighted Fraser’s personal hardships, stating that he had lost his job and was facing divorce after 30 years of marriage. Thackray also noted that Fraser had not committed any offenses for nearly 20 years. However, the judge, Michael Mettyear, described Fraser’s actions as “disgusting,” emphasizing the lasting emotional damage inflicted on the victims. The judge condemned Fraser’s facade of being a “hard-working family man,” revealing the true nature of his persistent serial abuse. Fraser was sentenced to a total of seven and a half years in prison, with a lifelong requirement to register as a sex offender. Additionally, he was issued a Sex Offender’s Prevention Order and prohibited from working with children.

Outside the court, Detective Constable Stephen Crawford of Humberside Police expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “I welcome today’s sentence. It is through the courage of the complainants that the courts have been able to give this sentence.” The case underscored the importance of victims coming forward and the justice system’s role in protecting vulnerable children from predators like Duncan Fraser.