NEIL ROBERTSON, THE DANGEROUS SEX OFFENDER FROM TROON, FACES SECOND LAWSUIT OVER JAIL TREATMENT IN SCOTLAND

In August 2014, Neil Robertson, a convicted sex offender from Troon, was at the center of a legal dispute involving the Scottish Prison Service. Robertson, who has a long and notorious history of sexual offenses, is now seeking a second compensation payout from prison authorities, citing dissatisfaction with the medical treatment he received for a toothache while incarcerated.

Robertson, who was previously awarded damages in 2009 after suing the Scottish Prison Service for failing to secure him access to an NHS dentist, has initiated fresh legal proceedings. This time, his claim revolves around the quality of dental care he received during his current imprisonment, asserting that it was inadequate. It is reported that Robertson had to undergo the removal of several teeth, a procedure that a health expert has described as resulting from “negligent” dental work.

The 48-year-old, who gained notoriety for his heinous crimes, including posing as a pilot to manipulate his victim’s mother and subsequently abusing her seven-year-old daughter, is now suing the prison service for a sum of £20,000. A spokesperson for the Scottish Prison Service confirmed that negotiations are ongoing to reach an out-of-court settlement, with efforts underway to resolve the matter without a formal trial.

Furthermore, a civil hearing scheduled to take place at Peterhead Sheriff Court last Friday was postponed. The delay was attributed to the need for additional time to work out a suitable compensation arrangement. The case has attracted attention not only because of Robertson’s criminal background but also due to the broader implications regarding prisoner treatment and legal accountability.

Local MSP and former shadow justice minister Lewis Macdonald expressed concern over the situation, emphasizing the importance of learning lessons to prevent costly legal actions from inmates in the future. He remarked, “At the end of the day, anyone has the right to take legal action, whether they are in society or locked up in jail, but you have to ask why someone who has been sent to prison for a serious crime is investing so much time and energy into making these claims.”

Macdonald further added, “It doesn’t suggest he is very focused on his rehabilitation, which is what he was sent to prison for in the first place. People will be dismayed to see their taxes being used in this way. The main point is that treatment of prisoners in jail has to be brought up to standard to avoid more complaints like this.”

Neil Robertson, originally from Ayrshire, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2003 after being convicted of abusing a seven-year-old girl. His criminal history includes a disturbing pattern of manipulation and sexual abuse, which he carried out after befriending the girl’s mother through an internet chat room. Robertson pretended to be a pilot, a businessman, and a psychologist to gain her trust, then proceeded to abuse her and take photographs of the acts.

During his trial, Robertson was described by the court as a “dangerous psychopath” with a sexual interest in pre-pubescent girls spanning over two decades. His case drew significant media attention, highlighting the severity of his crimes and the risks he posed to society.

In 2010, Robertson was transferred from Peterhead Prison, where he was serving his sentence, to Glenochil Prison, along with approximately 150 other sex offenders, as part of preparations for the construction of the new £140 million HMP Grampian facility.

Recent criticisms of the prison system include the case of Giovanni Cocozza, a 78-year-old inmate who was diagnosed with lung and liver cancer just 24 hours before his death from a brain hemorrhage in March 2011. Despite being treated at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Peterhead Prison, medical staff failed to identify the symptoms in time. An inquiry into his death revealed “personal and institutional shortcomings” at both facilities, as well as at HMP Glenochil, where Cocozza spent his final months, raising concerns about the adequacy of healthcare provided to prisoners in Scotland.