GEORGE OWEN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN BELLSHILL AND PRESTWICK

In a case that has spanned over a decade, George Owen, aged 66, has been sentenced to five years in prison after admitting to the sexual abuse of four young children. The heinous acts took place primarily at properties located in Prestwick, South Ayrshire, and Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, during the years from 1971 to 1982.

Owen's criminal activities came to light in 2012 when a daughter of one of his victims confronted him about the abuse. This confrontation prompted police investigations that eventually led to his arrest. Owen was subsequently brought before the High Court in Glasgow, where he pleaded guilty to five charges of engaging in lewd and libidinous conduct towards minors.

The presiding judge, Lord Turnbull, did not hold back in his condemnation of Owen’s actions. He described Owen’s behavior as being carried out in a “devious and calculating manner,” highlighting the predatory nature of his crimes. Lord Turnbull emphasized the court’s responsibility to protect children from such offenders, stating, “It is the duty of the court to protect victims from predatory sexual offenders who use children as sexual objects.”

Details of the abuse reveal a disturbing pattern. The first victim, a girl, was only five years old when Owen began assaulting her. Around the same time, he also started abusing an eight-year-old boy. Another young boy, also aged five, was targeted by Owen, with one of the assaults occurring in a swimming pool cubicle in Ayr. The final victim was between eight and ten years old when she was subjected to abuse by Owen.

Prosecutor Bill McVicar recounted that Owen managed to evade justice for many years, despite the severity of his crimes. It was only after the daughter of his first victim challenged him about the abuse in late 2012 that the case gained traction. Following this, Owen disappeared from public view, prompting a police search that eventually located him in Dunoon, Argyll and Bute. During police interviews, Owen admitted that his “past was catching up with him” and expressed that he had “needed to get away,” indicating a sense of guilt or remorse for his actions.

Owen’s sentencing marks a significant moment in the ongoing effort to bring justice to victims of childhood sexual abuse, and his case underscores the importance of vigilance and perseverance in uncovering hidden crimes that span decades.