SCOTTISH CHILD ABUSERS IN EAST LOTHIAN AND BEYOND: SHOCKING CASES OF PRE-1998 OFFENSES

In a series of disturbing criminal cases across Scotland, numerous individuals have been convicted of heinous crimes involving the abuse and exploitation of vulnerable children and adults before 1998. These cases, spanning various locations including Edinburgh, Stirling, West Lothian, and others, reveal a dark chapter in Scotland's history of child and adult abuse.

One of the most notorious offenders, Robert Herriot, aged 38, was convicted of abusing men with Down's Syndrome at a residence in East Lothian. Despite receiving a seven-year prison sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh in January, families of his victims strongly criticized the punishment, deeming it excessively lenient. Herriot, a resident of Edinburgh, could potentially be released after serving just three and a half years.

Another chilling case involves David Eaglesham, aged 66, a deaf mute from Eaglesham, who carried out multiple sexual assaults on a 10-year-old girl. The community in Bo'ness, West Lothian, where Eaglesham previously lived with his wife before beginning a two-year incarceration earlier this month, is resolute in their demand that he will never return. An active local group is collecting signatures to support this cause.

Alan Christie, aged 50, faced community outrage in Stirling after being identified as a child molester. His troubles began in December when he was placed in a hostel following the completion of a half-year sentence. Just days before his move, Christie was arrested in Stenhousemuir on allegations of frightening a 17-year-old girl, though he was later released.

Sandra Alves, aged 28, was forced into hiding after it emerged she had harassed two boys for sex. She was found lying naked on an 11-year-old boy, narrowly avoiding having sex with him because he was not fully developed. Residents in Stirling, outraged by her actions, compelled Alves to leave her parents' home, and she was subsequently jailed for six months.

Colin Beaton, aged 35, from Broughty Ferry, was fined £3,000 at Dundee Sheriff Court in January for hoarding a disturbing collection of child pornography, including magazines and blue movies. Sheriff Richard Davidson described Beaton’s collection as “two bagfuls of filth,” highlighting the severity of his offenses.

Vincent Smith, aged 58, had a criminal history dating back to 1995 when he was jailed for repeatedly sexually assaulting a girl in a Perth office when she was just nine and ten years old. He was also convicted of attacking a 17-year-old girl. After his release, Smith returned to live near a primary school in Perth, raising concerns among local residents.

Peter Harley, aged 50, was sentenced to 15 years in April for abusing children in his care at Merkland Children’s Home in Moffat, Dumfriesshire. He targeted young children as young as six over a period of five years, pretending to be a caring figure while committing repeated acts of molestation.

In Ayrshire, Kevin Drumgoole, an 18-month jail term in December 1995, was handed down for molesting numerous teenage tourists. The Edinburgh-based bachelor lured them to his apartment, where he intoxicated them and filmed himself engaging in sexual acts. His victims, aged between 14 and 17, were often too intoxicated to resist or understand what was happening.

Other cases include David Wood, who, over a 17-year period, inflicted trauma on four young lives in Bo'ness, West Lothian. When confronted, Wood, aged 52, attempted to commit suicide. His crimes led to a ten-year prison sentence, with Lord Ross describing his case as among the worst he had encountered.

From Northern Ireland, William Hogarth, aged 64, a care worker from Danderhall, Midlothian, was jailed for three years in 1992 for abusing six young girls in children’s homes over seven years. The judge expressed outrage at the social services’ failure to act on victims’ complaints.

Other offenders include John Reilly, who abused three 12-year-old girls over three years in Glasgow, leading to an eight-year sentence; Janet Mills, who was jailed for two months in 1992 for sex acts with two boys at her home in East Kilbride; and Douglas Cunningham, who was sentenced to eight years last month for a 20-year reign of terror targeting young girls in St Andrews.

These cases, among many others, underscore the extensive and varied history of child and adult abuse in Scotland prior to 1998. The community and victims continue to seek justice and accountability for these heinous crimes, which have left indelible scars on the lives of many.