JAMES DUNLOP FROM CARRUTHERTOWN SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN DUMFRIESSHIRE

A farm worker from Carrutherstown has been handed a significant prison sentence after being convicted of sexually abusing a young girl. James Dunlop, aged 42, was found guilty of engaging in sexual activities with a girl whose age ranged between 10 and 13 years old. The incidents took place at various locations across Dumfriesshire, beginning in 2016 and continuing over a period of approximately four and a half years.

During the court proceedings, Dunlop was convicted of sexual assault but was acquitted of the more serious charges of rape concerning the girl and another woman. The presiding judge, Douglas Brown, emphasized the gravity of the crimes committed, stating, "The charges are still serious in that sexual abuse was obviously planned and deliberate. You were a mature adult when it started and were 25 years older than the victim, who was a child. The offending was sustained and repeated over some four and a half years."

Following the conviction, Dunlop was sentenced to five years in prison. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, a measure that underscores the severity of his crimes and the potential risk to the community.

Throughout the trial, Dunlop’s defense team argued that he was a first-time offender and highlighted the support of his family. They also expressed their intention for him to return to his family farm in Carrutherstown upon release. However, the court’s decision was heavily influenced by the fact that the abuse was not only planned but also persisted over a lengthy period, reflecting a pattern of predatory behavior that warranted a strict legal response.