ROBERT KHAN FROM WHITBURN CONVICTED OF CHILD SEX ABUSE IN WEST LOTHIAN

In August 2021, a disturbing case unfolded in West Lothian, where Robert Khan, aged 61 and a resident of Whitburn, was found guilty of heinous sexual offenses involving two young sisters. The conviction followed a lengthy legal process that revealed the extent of Khan’s predatory behavior and the tragic impact on his victims.

According to court proceedings, Khan had denied any wrongdoing, claiming he did not sexually abuse one of the girls, who was just seven years old at the time. However, evidence presented during the trial painted a starkly different picture. It was established that Khan had begun abusing the older girl when she was only seven, and later turned his predatory attention to her younger sister, starting when she was nine years old.

The court heard that Khan’s abuse was not limited to isolated incidents but was repeated over a period of years. One of the victims, now an adult, testified that Khan would visit their family home in Whitburn during weekends after consuming alcohol. She recounted that his abuse began with him sneaking into her bed at night, groping her, and eventually escalating to full sexual intercourse. Her account was supported by police statements and her own testimony, which detailed the trauma she endured from a young age.

The second victim, who also suffered from psychiatric issues, provided a harrowing account of her experiences. Her statement, read aloud in court, described how Khan assaulted her on a mattress in her mother’s bedroom while her deaf mother slept beside them. She revealed that the abuse started when she was nine and continued until she was twelve. Despite her attempts to confide in her mother about Khan’s actions, she was not believed at the time, with her mother reportedly dismissing her concerns because “Rab was the blue-eyed boy.”

It was also revealed that the first girl had reported Khan’s abuse to the police 25 years prior. At that time, Khan was arrested but released shortly afterward due to insufficient evidence. It was only after the victims shared their experiences again in 2019 that Khan was re-arrested and charged with multiple offenses. The charges included using lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices against the older girl at addresses in Whitburn between 1973 and 1976. Additionally, he faced four counts of rape—two involving the older girl when she was under 12, and two when she was between 12 and 16.

The jury, after deliberating for just over four and a half hours, unanimously found Khan guilty of all five charges. During the trial, Khan attempted to dismiss the allegations as “total lies” and suggested that someone else must have been responsible for the abuse. He also expressed personal grievances, claiming that his marriage had ended and that he was unable to take his grandchild for walks because of the court case.

Following the verdict, Advocate depute John Keenan requested that Khan be sentenced accordingly. It was noted that Khan had a prior record, including a short period of custody for assault, resisting arrest, and breach of the peace. However, he had no previous convictions related to sexual offenses. Judge Lord Beckett indicated that while Khan could be sentenced immediately, it was not appropriate given that his last custodial sentence was over 40 years ago for a different type of crime. Instead, the judge deferred sentencing until the following month and remanded Khan in custody.

Furthermore, the judge ordered that Khan’s name be added to the Sex Offenders’ Register, emphasizing the seriousness of his crimes. He stated, “In the meantime you will be remanded in custody. You no longer enjoy the presumption of innocence and a prison sentence is highly likely indeed.” The court also instructed the clerk to notify Scottish Ministers of Khan’s convictions so that his name could be officially listed as someone deemed unsuitable to work with children.

As Khan was led away to the cells, he showed no visible emotion, remaining silent throughout the process. The case highlights the ongoing issues of child abuse and the importance of justice for victims, especially in cases where initial reports were dismissed or ignored.