EX-ABERDEEN ADVOCATE SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULTS
A former advocate convicted of indecently assaulting two teenage brothers over 20 years ago has been sentenced to prison.Mark Strachan, aged 64, was found guilty after a trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court of sexually touching the brothers between 1999 and 2001 at two addresses in the city.
The jury delivered a majority verdict on November 17 last year.
Strachan, who authored a legal textbook on sexual offending in 2015, was accused of abusing his position as the family lawyer to gain access to the boys.
Sheriff Ian Wallace stated that Strachan's actions "risked damaging the trust the wider public have for professionals working in the administration of justice." He explained that Strachan obtained access to his victims deceitfully, while acting as the family solicitor, which constituted an abuse of authority and caused trauma to the victims, influencing their trust in figures of authority.
Additionally, Strachan had prior convictions, including a jail sentence of two years and removal from his advocate role after being convicted of fraud and attempted fraud totalling nearly £50,000.
During the trial, court hearings revealed disturbing details, including Strachan asking the boys’ parents to measure them for what he claimed was a "teenage growth study" and then measuring their private parts with a tape, during which he manipulated their genitals.
These acts were accompanied by inappropriate handling and comments.
Strachan repeatedly denied these allegations on the stand, claiming he was working "absolutely flat out" at the time and became confrontational during cross-examination.
The court sentenced him to two years in prison and mandated that he register as a sex offender for 10 years.
The judge highlighted the significant impact on the victims and the importance of public trust in the justice system.
