LAWRENCE MCROBERT FROM CARLISLE SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN CUMBRIA AND DUMFRIES-SHIRE
In a harrowing case that has shocked the local communities of Carlisle, Dumfries-shire, and Lockerbie, Lawrence McRobert, a 69-year-old retired plumber from Botchergate, Carlisle, was sentenced to eight years in prison for a prolonged history of child sexual abuse.The court heard that McRobert's abuse of a young girl spanned an astonishing 15 years, beginning when she was only four years old.
The details of the case revealed a disturbing pattern of cruelty and manipulation that left the victim, now 38, scarred for life.
According to the prosecution, advocate depute Robert Anthony, McRobert initiated his cycle of abuse over three decades ago.
The young girl endured repeated assaults, which occurred up to three times weekly, and the abuse persisted until she reached adulthood at 18.
The court was told that McRobert's acts included sexual assaults in the Dumfries-shire and Lockerbie areas, with the offender often attempting to minimize the trauma by telling her, “There, it wasn’t that bad.
Smile, smile.” One particularly disturbing incident involved McRobert smacking the girl when she tried to cover herself with a blanket in the bath, then flushing her head down the toilet before sexually assaulting her again.
The victim's suffering was so severe that she confided in her foster mother at age 16, only to be met with hostility.
She was slapped and accused of being a troublemaker, told, “No-one will believe you.” McRobert’s criminal activities did not end there.
He also admitted to sexually assaulting a woman over a 25-year period and engaging in sexual offences against another child over two years starting in 1966.
However, he pleaded not guilty to charges involving three other children, and a rape charge related to his first victim was ultimately dropped.
The court acknowledged the extensive nature of his offending but took into account his age and health in reducing his sentence.
His arrest came in 1998 when the victim, concerned about his friendship with another teenage girl, contacted the police.
Her statement was a pivotal moment that led to his capture and subsequent conviction.
As she expressed her feelings, she said, “He’s taken my life, I hope prison takes his too.” Judge Lord Kingarth emphasized the seriousness of McRobert’s crimes but also considered his age and health in his sentencing decision, which resulted in an eight-year imprisonment term.
The case has left a lasting impact on the victims and serves as a stark reminder of the long-lasting scars inflicted by such abuse.
