JAMES CURRIE COYLTON PAEDOPHILE PENSIONER SENTENCED TO JAIL FOR ABUSING GIRLS IN AYR AND DALRYMPLE

In a case that has shocked the community of Coylton and the surrounding areas, James Currie, a 75-year-old pensioner, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing two young girls. The disturbing incidents took place in April of the previous year, with Currie exploiting his position of trust and familiarity within the community to carry out his heinous acts.

Currie, who was known to his victims as 'uncle,' had a troubling history of indecency convictions dating back to 2002. Despite this, he continued to have access to children, which ultimately led to his arrest and trial. The victims, aged 13 and 17 at the time, bravely came forward to give evidence in court, revealing the extent of Currie’s predatory behavior.

The older girl recounted that she was sexually assaulted at a residence in Dalrymple, where Currie had invited her. The assault occurred during a visit to her home, and she described feeling frightened and powerless. On the same day, April 7, 2013, Currie, who was driving a Mercedes, also admitted to sexually assaulting the younger girl during a car journey to Ayr. The younger victim, who was only 13, was subjected to inappropriate touching inside Currie’s home, where he had paid her £5 to do cleaning work. She testified that Currie rubbed the inside of her thigh despite her attempts to push him away.

The 17-year-old girl, who gave her evidence behind a screen, broke down emotionally as she described her ordeal. She recounted how Currie, during the drive home, made a disturbing comment, saying, “Why do stuff with boys when you can get money for it from me,” which left her feeling degraded and 'cheap.' Both victims revealed that Currie had offered them money to keep silent about what had happened, but they chose to confide in their grandmother. The grandmother then reported the incidents to the police, leading to Currie’s arrest and subsequent trial.

During sentencing, Sheriff John Montgomery expressed his strong disapproval of Currie’s actions and character. He described the social work report as poor, highlighting that it depicted Currie as having no empathy for his victims and presenting a significant risk of further harm. The sheriff concluded that a custodial sentence was the only appropriate punishment, which resulted in Currie being sentenced to 10 months in prison.

In addition to his jail term, Currie was ordered to stay away from any unsupervised contact with children for a period of five years. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a decade, ensuring close monitoring of his activities moving forward. This case underscores the importance of vigilance within communities and the need to protect vulnerable children from predators like James Currie, whose actions have left a lasting impact on his victims and their families.