JAMES FAIRNS SALTCOATS FOSTER DAD SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF ABUSE IN SALTCOATS

In a case that has shocked the community of Saltcoats, James Fairns, a 75-year-old man from O’Connor Court, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous crimes committed against vulnerable children under his care. The crimes span over a period from the late 1970s into the 1990s, revealing a disturbing pattern of abuse that has left lasting scars on his victims.

Emma Orderley, now 54, courageously came forward to share her harrowing experience of being repeatedly abused by her foster father, James Fairns, when she was just 12 years old. Emma’s story is particularly poignant because she chose to waive her right to anonymity, standing publicly to shed light on the horrors she endured. Her testimony was a pivotal moment in the trial, and she expressed a mixture of relief and trauma as she recounted her ordeal. Emma told the court, “I had to give evidence and stand up and tell the court what he did to me. It was awful. I felt dirty all over again. When the jury came back with a guilty verdict I was shocked, but it felt fantastic. I just thought, finally someone believes me.”

Emma’s early life was marked by instability, as she was placed in the care system and was residing at Harley Place Children’s Home in Saltcoats when she was informed she would be placed with a foster family. She was initially sent to stay with Fairns and his now-deceased wife for weekends, but her innocence was quickly shattered. She recalls her first night at the foster home vividly, describing her initial excitement about having a family to care for her, only to be met with immediate abuse. “He began abusing me that very first night. He put his hands inside my pants and my clothes and fondled me. I felt so scared. I just froze while he was doing it. It was horrible.”

Emma reported the abuse to staff at Harley Place, but her pleas were dismissed, and she was sent back to Fairns’ home the following week, where the abuse continued. She was one of five girls subjected to his cruelty during that period. Emma detailed the brutal conditions she endured, including starvation and emotional manipulation. “He would starve us and refuse to give us food. He told us that our real families did not care about us and all we had was him. One time he chased one of the kids with a dead mouse and she was terrified. He went out of his way to be cruel to us. It was torture.”

Fairns’ criminal actions were uncovered during a trial at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week, where he was found guilty of multiple charges related to the sexual abuse and ill-treatment of five young girls. The court heard that the abuse occurred on various dates between 1977 and 1984, but Emma believes the full extent of his victims could be much larger, as he continued fostering into the 1990s. She estimates, “I think he must have fostered at least 25 kids between the 70s, 80s and 90s. We don’t know actually when he stopped.”

During the sentencing, the sheriff condemned Fairns’ actions, describing his crimes as “disgusting” and noting his apparent lack of remorse. Fairns entered the courtroom with a smirk on his face, a detail that did not go unnoticed. The judge sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison for the sexual offenses and cruelty committed against the children in his care. The court’s verdict covered multiple counts, including sexual assault, lewd and libidinous practices, and cruelty to minors.

Emma’s husband, Terry, aged 56, expressed his support for her, stating, “Emma has been through so much with this and she just wants people to know who he is and what he has done so she can move forward.” Emma herself shared her ongoing struggles, revealing that she suffers from PTSD and mental health issues, and has previously attempted suicide. Despite the pain, she remains hopeful that other victims may find the strength to come forward now that her story has been told. “I don’t know how many victims he had, but I do know I’m not the only one. Hopefully if there are they might feel strong enough to come forward now. I feel now like I’m a survivor, not a victim. I survived him. He is going to stare at the same four walls for the next four years but I can finally start living.”

In a related case from June 2019, Fairns, then aged 65, was found guilty of multiple sexual and cruelty offenses against five girls aged between 8 and 12 years old, committed during his time as a foster carer. The court heard that he molested the young girls, forced them to touch his genitals, and engaged in lewd practices. Despite the severity of his crimes, he was released on bail and scheduled for sentencing on July 15, 2019. The community of Saltcoats continues to grapple with the revelations of his long history of abuse, and the impact on his victims remains profound.