GEORGE DUFF FROM STRATHSPEY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON GIRLS DECADES AGO

In a case that has spanned over four decades, George Duff, a 65-year-old retired lorry driver from Milton Farm House, Dulnain Bridge, near Strathspey, was recently convicted of multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of two young girls. The incidents, which occurred between June 1971 and September 1972, involved inappropriate acts committed during seemingly innocent childhood games of hide and seek on a farm in the Speyside region.

Despite maintaining his innocence, Duff was found guilty by a jury at Inverness Sheriff Court after a lengthy trial. The court proceedings revealed that the offences took place in various locations, including a barn on a farm near Cromdale and inside a vehicle parked nearby. The victims, both under the age of 13 at the time, provided emotional testimonies describing their traumatic experiences.

One of the girls recounted how she was playing hide and seek with Duff in 1971, during which he took her into a hayloft in the barn. She described feeling frozen and confused as Duff touched her inappropriately, an act she said happened multiple times but not exceeding four instances. She also recounted a separate incident about a year later, when she was receiving driving lessons from Duff, during which he again indecently assaulted her.

The second victim also gave heartfelt evidence, describing her own experiences of being assaulted by Duff during the same game of hide and seek in the barn, as well as during a driving lesson. Her testimony underscored the pattern of abuse that spanned over a year, involving similar circumstances and locations.

During the trial, Duff denied all charges, which included six counts in total—four involving one girl and two involving the other. One charge was dismissed after his solicitor, Alison Foggo, successfully argued there was no case to answer, and the jury returned a verdict of not proven on another count. Ultimately, Duff was convicted on four charges, two for each girl.

Given the offences' age, Sheriff Margaret Neilson was constrained to impose a sentence that reflected the legal standards of the early 1970s. Instead of imprisonment, she sentenced Duff to three years of probation, requiring him to participate in rehabilitation programs for sex offenders and remain under social work supervision until 2019. Sheriff Neilson acknowledged Duff's lack of prior convictions and good behavior since the offences, which influenced her decision to opt for a non-custodial sentence.

Following the sentencing, Duff declined to comment. His family, including his ex-wife, continue to support him, believing in his innocence despite the serious allegations. The court's decision highlights the complexities involved in cases of historical abuse, where the passage of time and the emotional impact on victims are significant factors in judicial proceedings.