HARRY YOUNG FROM GLASGOW AND LARBER TURNS CRIMINAL WITH HORRIFIC ABUSE CASE

In April 2017, a disturbing case unfolded involving Harry Young, a man with ties to both Glasgow and Larbert, who was convicted of heinous crimes against young girls. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of abuse that spanned several years, with Young, aged 67 at the time of sentencing, found guilty of subjecting two young girls to lewd and libidinous acts during the period from 2004 to 2006.

The victims, now aged 17 and 19, chose to remain anonymous for legal reasons. Their testimonies, delivered via CCTV link, painted a chilling picture of Young’s predatory behavior. The younger girl recounted that when she was just five or six years old, Young entered her bedroom in Larbert, Stirlingshire, and engaged in disturbing acts involving her Barbie-like doll. She described how he removed the doll’s top, exposing its plastic breasts, which he then licked, before inappropriately touching her underneath her clothing.

The older sister, who was between six and eight years old at the time, also provided testimony. She explained that Young, who had come home intoxicated after a Celtic night, fell down the stairs and hit his head. Later, he sought comfort on the sofa, where he inappropriately touched her while covered with a blanket. These acts of abuse, which took place in the girls’ home, were only disclosed years later, after the victims had grown older and felt ready to speak out.

During the trial, the court heard that Young’s relationship with the girls’ mother, a 38-year-old carer, was complex. She had been a friend of Young’s and often shared a bed with him, although she clarified that their relationship was never sexually intimate, citing Young’s personal issues as a barrier. The mother also recounted an incident during a holiday in Salou, Spain, where Young falsely accused her of having an incestuous relationship with her younger brother, simply because she had allowed him into the bathroom after he had been drinking heavily. She challenged Young’s accusations, asking how he would feel if the same was said about him and her daughters.

Despite the serious allegations, Young denied all charges and chose not to testify in his defense. His legal representative, Alastair Ross, described him as a retired man living alone in a housing association property, dependent on a state pension. Ross emphasized that Young had become somewhat reclusive in recent years and maintained that he had no recollection of the offenses, despite being found guilty.

The court also noted that Young had no prior sexual offense record but had a history of violence, including a conviction in 1999 at the High Court for assault causing severe injury and permanent disfigurement, which resulted in a six-year prison sentence. The judge, Sheriff Wyllie Robertson, sentenced Young to two years in prison, with an additional three-year supervision order. During this period, Young will be monitored closely and could be recalled to jail if he re-offends. Furthermore, the court ordered that his name be added to the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need for ongoing public protection.

Judge Robertson expressed his concern for public safety, stating, “I am concerned to ensure that the public is protected from serious harm from you when you are eventually released.” The verdict was swift, with the jury taking only twenty minutes to reach a guilty verdict after a four-day trial. The case has left a lasting impact on the community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable victims from predatory individuals like Harry Young.