HUGH MURRAY SENTENCED FOR ABUSING SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRLS IN BOTHWELL

In a case that has shocked the community of Bothwell, Hugh Murray, aged 42, has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison after being convicted of abusing two young girls, both only seven years old. The incident took place at an address in Bothwell in February 2011, a period during which the victims endured unimaginable trauma.

Despite Murray's persistent denial of the allegations, claiming he did not sexually assault the children, a jury at Hamilton Sheriff Court found him guilty following a detailed three-day trial. The evidence presented during the proceedings was compelling enough to secure a conviction, and the victims bravely provided testimony that played a crucial role in the case.

Sheriff David Bicket, presiding over the case, ordered that Murray’s current sentence should commence immediately after he completes a previous four-year prison term. This earlier sentence was handed down at Glasgow Sheriff Court in 2015, stemming from charges related to indecency involving a teenage girl and other assault allegations.

Further back in his criminal history, Murray had been jailed for four months at Hamilton in October 2015 for an offence involving indecent images of children, highlighting a pattern of concerning behavior. The court also took into account his previous convictions when determining the appropriate sentence.

In addition to his prison term, Sheriff Bicket mandated that Murray be placed on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years. His name has also been added to a list of individuals considered unsuitable to work with minors, reflecting the serious nature of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to children in the community of Bothwell.