JOHN SPENCE FROM KIRKCALDY CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ABUSE IN SUTHERLAND AND FIFE

A man named John Spence, who has ties to Kirkcaldy, has been found guilty of heinous sexual crimes committed against an eight-year-old girl, with the incident taking place at a property in Fife. The conviction is part of a disturbing pattern of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse spanning approximately 15 years, involving two young girls at various locations across Fife and Sutherland.

During the trial, it was revealed that Spence, aged 59, subjected his victims to a series of cruel and degrading acts. These included restricting their access to food and water, denying them the use of a toilet, forcibly pulling down their underwear, and physically assaulting them by hitting their private parts. One of the victims recounted that Spence pointed a gun at her and made threats to shoot her, adding a layer of intimidation and danger to his abuse.

Spence, a former soldier in the British Army and now a crofter near Lairg in Sutherland, denied all allegations. However, after a comprehensive trial at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, a jury of seven members unanimously convicted him on multiple charges. The jury was visibly affected by the evidence presented, with some members visibly tearful as they listened to the disturbing testimonies.

The charges against Spence included lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices directed at his young victims, as well as assault, neglect, and making inappropriate sexual comments. Sheriff James Williamson, presiding over the case, described the abuse as a “litany” of misconduct and emphasized the severity of the charges, stating, “These are as serious charges as this court is likely to have to consider.”

In light of the traumatic nature of the case, Sheriff Williamson suggested that the case could have been prosecuted at the High Court level. He also decided to exempt the jury, some of whom became emotional during the proceedings, from jury service for the next ten years.

One of the victims provided a detailed account of her ordeal in the living room of a property in Fife when she was just eight years old. She described how Spence instructed her to lie on the floor, face down, with her arms and legs spread out, although he did not use the word “starfish.” She recounted that he paced back and forth during this disturbing episode. The girl further explained that Spence assaulted her genitals, kicking her in the private area, and that he penetrated her with a gun, causing her pain and bleeding. She also revealed that she had difficulty using the toilet at school afterward due to the trauma.

Additionally, she recalled that Spence had threatened to shoot her on multiple occasions and pointed a gun at her at least once. She also described how he directed another individual to shave her hair, leaving her appearance similar to that of a young boy. Throughout her testimony, she expressed her despair, saying she used to pray to God to save her from him.

The court heard that Spence’s abuse extended beyond sexual assault. He prevented his victims from using the toilet, forcing them to urinate next to a boiler, and made them sit on the floor to eat, while also restricting their access to food. Both victims described being slapped on their private parts, sometimes with their trousers and underwear pulled down. The second victim recounted an incident where Spence lifted her off the ground by her collar, dropped her, and once held her head at a sink. She also recalled him threatening to kill her dog.

Further, she described how Spence gave her alcohol when she was a young teenager and restricted her water intake. He also made inappropriate sexual comments for his own amusement and showed her adult sexual images. During cross-examination, defense counsel Duncan McPhie challenged her account, suggesting the incidents never occurred. However, she firmly responded, “They did happen. They changed my life and ruined my life. I cannot live as a normal, functioning human being and won’t get the chance to because of things he put me through.”

Throughout the trial, it was also revealed that Spence verbally abused his victims, calling them derogatory names such as “slut” and “slag,” and once accused one of them of being anorexic. Following the guilty verdicts, Duncan McPhie requested that Spence be granted bail before sentencing to allow for background reports. He highlighted that Spence was a first-time offender, had been on bail for over two years, and had no other criminal record.

Sheriff Williamson postponed sentencing until July 10 to review the reports but maintained Spence’s bail in the meantime. He warned Spence, who resides at Rowan Croft, Tirryside, Lairg, that he is likely to face a lengthy prison sentence. Additionally, Spence will be required to register as a sex offender as part of his punishment.