EDWARD SWAN FROM HAWICK SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN SCOTTISH BORDERS

In July 2021, a disturbing case of long-term sexual abuse came to light involving Edward Swan, a 75-year-old man from Hawick, located in the Scottish Borders. Swan was convicted of a series of heinous crimes against young girls, spanning nearly two decades, culminating in a brutal assault in Buckland Woods, Hawick.

According to court proceedings, Swan had been engaged in a disturbing campaign of sexual misconduct against children from the year 2000 through 2018. His crimes included multiple instances of rape, indecency, and sexual assault, targeting four young girls over this extensive period. The first victim, who was between six and eight years old at the time, was abused during visits to Swan’s residence in Hawick between 2000 and 2003. She later recounted her experiences, describing how Swan would stay at her home and, during the night, enter her bedroom to touch her and perform sexual acts, leaving her feeling helpless and confused.

Another girl, aged seven or eight, was also subjected to Swan’s abuse at a house and in the woods of Hawick. The third victim, a primary school pupil, was abused between 2011 and 2013 in a different Borders town. The fourth girl, who was between 10 and 11 years old, was assaulted in Buckland Woods during a period from 2015 to 2018. The assault in Buckland Woods involved Swan seizing the girl, removing her lower clothing, pushing her to the ground, and raping her during a woodland walk.

The first victim’s testimony was presented to the court through a pre-recorded statement, which was shown to the jury during Swan’s trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. She described three separate incidents of abuse that occurred when she was staying at a house in Hawick, where Swan was supposed to be sleeping on a couch. She recounted how Swan would enter her bedroom at night, touch her, and perform sexual acts. She explained, “I don’t know what time it was. It was dark.” The woman, now aged 27, revealed that during the first incident, she “just froze,” and although she did not understand what was happening at the time, she knew it was wrong.

On a subsequent occasion, Swan whispered in her ear and told her, “that I needed to know what it felt like.” During a third incident, she felt overwhelmed and screamed for help, which resulted in a woman coming to her aid. She later confided in her partner about the abuse and decided to report it to the police after reading a newspaper article about similar cases.

Swan, who had no prior criminal record, was initially released on bail following a court appearance in 2019. However, after the jury found him guilty of five sex crimes—including two counts of rape, two of indecency, and one of sexual assault—the trial judge, Lord Burns, remanded him into custody. Swan was also ordered to register as a sex offender. The judge postponed sentencing until September to allow for a comprehensive background report to be prepared, ensuring a thorough assessment of his case before final judgment.