JAMES ROBERTSON FROM ALYTH AND ARBROATH SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN PERTHSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Alyth and Arbroath, James Robertson, a 54-year-old man, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a prolonged and disturbing pattern of sexual abuse against a young girl. The heinous acts spanned over five years, beginning when the girl was just six years old, and took place at a residence in Alyth.

During the court proceedings at Perth Sheriff Court, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis emphasized the severity of Robertson’s crimes, stating that it would be a failure of his duty not to impose a custodial sentence given the gravity of the offences. Robertson, who was formerly residing on Alexandra Street in Alyth and later identified as living on Grange Road in Arbroath, sat silently in the dock, showing no visible emotion as the sentence was read.

The court was informed that Robertson had a prior conviction from 1990 for a sexual offence, for which he had been sentenced to community service. Following his release from that earlier conviction, Robertson’s pattern of offending continued, leading to the current charges. As part of his punishment, he will be under license for three years after his release, and a 20-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order has been imposed. This order explicitly prohibits him from being alone with any child under the age of 16, aiming to prevent further harm.

Additionally, Robertson’s name has been added to the Sex Offenders’ Register, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions. The court heard that the abuse began in January 2002 at a house in Alyth, where the young girl would visit him twice weekly. During these visits, Robertson engaged in sexual acts with her and would reward her with computer games afterward. He also took indecent photographs of the girl and threatened her with serious trouble if she disclosed the abuse to anyone.

The abuse continued until November 1, 2007, with the girl’s diary eventually revealing the details of the incidents. The discovery of her diary by a family member prompted police intervention. Investigations led to the seizure of Robertson’s computer, which contained seven indecent images of the girl, along with thousands of other illicit images downloaded over the years. The images ranged from children aged three to fourteen and were classified on the Copine Scale, with some falling into the most severe categories.

Furthermore, police uncovered a 15-minute video depicting indecent images of the girl. The authorities also found nearly 2,000 live images and over 1,100 deleted images that could be recovered, illustrating the extent of Robertson’s possession of child exploitation material. The images depicted children in various states of abuse, highlighting the disturbing nature of his crimes.

During the court hearing, solicitor Bob Bruce requested that Robertson be considered for a community-based sentence, citing Robertson’s initial denial of full responsibility but noting his later acknowledgment and desire to participate in the Tay Project, which offers help for offenders seeking treatment for their problems. Robertson expressed a wish to receive assistance, claiming he wanted help for what he described as “his problem.”

However, Sheriff Foulis responded firmly, emphasizing the seriousness of the case and stating that it was at the top end of the severity scale for such offences. In addition to his prison sentence, Robertson received a concurrent four-month sentence for possessing indecent photographs. The combined measures, including the extended supervision and the 20-year prevention order, are designed to protect the public from further harm and ensure ongoing oversight of Robertson’s activities after his release.