SCOTT TURNER SENTENCED IN CLYDEBANK FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF BOYS IN GLASGOW AND COUNTY DONEGAL

In a case that has spanned decades and crossed international borders, Scott Turner, a 44-year-old man from Clydebank, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the sexual abuse of four young boys. The abuse took place at various addresses within Clydebank between December 1991 and November 1998, a period during which Turner targeted vulnerable children in his community.

During the proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow, it was revealed that two of the victims were only 11 years old when the abuse began, while the remaining two were just seven and eight years old at the time. The court heard harrowing details of how Turner exploited the innocence of these children, leaving lasting psychological scars. Despite the passage of time, the trauma inflicted on the victims remains evident, with one survivor, now aged 31, breaking down in court and recounting the ongoing emotional damage caused by Turner's actions.

At the time of the offences, Turner had relocated from Scotland to County Donegal in Ireland, where he sought to start anew. He denied all charges, claiming that his victims were fabricating their stories and that he was innocent. His defense argued that there was no truth to the allegations, but the jury was unconvinced. After a trial held in November of this year, the jury found Turner guilty of the sexual offences, rejecting his claims of innocence.

Following the verdict, the court deferred sentencing to allow for the preparation of reports. Today, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Craig Scott QC delivered the sentence, emphasizing the gravity of Turner's crimes. In his remarks, Judge Scott expressed disappointment at Turner's apparent lack of remorse, stating, “There has been an abject lack of understanding or indeed remorse for your actions. One of the complainers in this case has spoken of how you have left him with continuing psychological injuries. You wrecked what should have been innocent childhoods. There can be only one sentence which I can impose in this case.”

The court also heard that police were alerted to the abuse after one of the victims, now an adult, disclosed what had happened. This led to a police investigation, which ultimately gathered enough evidence to bring Turner to justice. Detective efforts were crucial in ensuring that the perpetrator was held accountable for his actions.

Jim Keegan QC, representing the prosecution, highlighted that Turner was residing in the Republic of Ireland at the time of sentencing but had lived in Scotland during the period when the offences occurred. Keegan also noted that Turner had two previous convictions for minor offences and had not been in custody prior to this case.

During the hearing, Turner's defense lawyer, Edward Targowski QC, maintained that his client still insisted on his innocence. He stated, “Mr Turner’s position remains the same as the position he took during his trial. He maintains his innocence. The current position is quite stark. He is aware that your lordship will impose a sentence of imprisonment. He is making arrangements that he will serve that sentence as close to his family in Ireland as possible.”

Judge Scott concluded that imprisonment was the only appropriate sentence given the severity of the crimes. Turner was also ordered to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions related to his criminal conduct. The case underscores the importance of justice for victims of childhood abuse and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring offenders to account, regardless of their location or attempts to evade justice.