ROBERT OSWALD FROM FIFE AND PITLESSIE SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEX ABUSE NEAR CU PAR AND ST ANDREWS

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Fife and Pitlessie, Robert Oswald, a 69-year-old resident of Priestfield Cottage, was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of multiple heinous sexual offenses committed against young girls over three decades ago.

The court proceedings revealed that Oswald had engaged in sexual acts with a girl when she was only 12 years old, at a farm cottage outbuilding near Cupar. The abuse did not stop there; the victim, who was a teenager at the time, was further assaulted by Oswald in wooded areas near St Andrews. It was also disclosed that the abuse had begun when the girl was just seven years old, highlighting a prolonged pattern of predatory behavior.

Furthermore, the court heard that Oswald had also molested another girl starting from the age of eight. These assaults occurred at various cottages across Fife over a period spanning from 1967 to 1973, amounting to a six-year period of repeated abuse. The second victim recounted that Oswald had exposed himself to her and had been molesting her since she was five years old, adding to the gravity of his offenses.

During the trial, Oswald denied all seven charges of sexual assault brought against him, which involved both victims. However, the jury, composed of ten women and five men, found him guilty of all charges after deliberation. The court's findings painted a disturbing picture of a man who exploited his position of trust and authority over vulnerable children for his own gratification, causing lifelong trauma.

It was noted that Oswald, who now acts as a carer for his partner—who is registered blind—had previously denied the allegations. Despite his current circumstances, Judge Lady Paton sentenced him to nine years in prison and ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register. In her remarks, she condemned his actions, stating, “You showed no mercy to two vulnerable young children. You abused these girls when in a position of trust and authority purely for your own self-gratification, causing endless misery and damage.”

Oswald’s defense solicitor, Alex Prentice, argued that due to his advanced age and declining health, he now poses a low risk of reoffending. Nonetheless, the court’s decision underscores the severity of his crimes and the community’s need for justice for the victims.