ROBERT SINCLAIR FROM TROON SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN AYR

In August 2017, Robert Sinclair, a pensioner residing in Troon, was convicted and sentenced for a series of disturbing sexual offenses involving a young girl. Sinclair, aged 65 and living in Millrock Court, engaged in prolonged abuse over several years, beginning when the girl was under 13 years old. His heinous actions included filming her in a bathroom, forcing her to wear adult underwear, and subjecting her to inappropriate touching and exposure to sexual material.

The court heard that Sinclair had placed a hidden camera in a bathroom at a Troon address between December 1, 2012, and January 31, 2013, capturing footage of the girl using the toilet. This act of voyeurism was part of a pattern of sexual misconduct that spanned multiple locations and years. During the same period, he also made her wear underwear, ran his fingers around the lingerie, and touched her chest, actions that took place at the same Troon residence.

Further abuse occurred at a caravan park in Girvan, where Sinclair forced the girl to view a tablet displaying images of naked men and women engaged in sexual acts, between March 1 and April 30, 2013. The depravity continued at another Troon home, where he showed her photographs of adults involved in sexual activities from December 1, 2013, to January 31, 2014. In October of the following year, Sinclair attempted to coerce her into wearing underwear belonging to another woman, adding to the list of his disturbing behaviors.

At Ayr Sheriff Court, Sheriff Desmond Leslie condemned Sinclair’s actions, describing his “sexual obsession” with the young girl. The sheriff emphasized that such offenses typically warrant harsher sentencing procedures but, in this case, was limited to a custodial sentence due to the nature of the proceedings. Sinclair was sentenced to eight months in prison and was ordered to be placed on the sex offenders register for ten years. The sheriff also expressed his disapproval of Sinclair’s conduct, highlighting the severity and repeated nature of the abuse.

During the court appearance, Sinclair entered the dock without a bag, but a social worker retrieved his holdall and handed it to him as he was led away in handcuffs to begin his sentence. The case underscores the ongoing concern over child sexual abuse and the importance of justice for victims, with authorities emphasizing the need for strict penalties to deter such heinous crimes.