STEPHEN HAMILTON FROM FORGANDENNY FACES JUSTICE AT PERTH SHERIFF COURT FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING SCHOOLGIRL

In April 2018, a serious case of sexual misconduct involving Stephen Hamilton, a resident of Forgandenny, was scheduled to be addressed at Perth Sheriff Court. The proceedings concern allegations that date back to when Hamilton was 35 years old, and his victim, a 15-year-old girl, was subjected to a series of disturbing acts. The court was set to determine Hamilton's fate on May 16, following a period of legal delays and procedural adjustments.

Initially, Hamilton, now aged 58 and residing at Stronachie House in Forgandenny, had pleaded guilty last year to charges involving lewd, indecent, and libidinous behavior directed at the underage girl. The offences reportedly occurred across multiple locations, including rural farm roads near his home in Forgandenny, as well as at Dunblane Hydro Hotel and a bed and breakfast situated in Perth’s Marshall Place. These locations suggest a pattern of predatory behavior spanning both rural and urban settings.

According to court reports, Hamilton would often take the young girl out in his vehicle, where he would park on secluded rural roads. It was during these outings that he began his grooming process, starting with inappropriate kissing and touching, gradually escalating to more intimate acts. The court heard that Hamilton used alcohol and cannabis as tools to manipulate and lower the girl’s resistance, making her more vulnerable to his advances. Depute Fiscal Tina Dickie stated that Hamilton would frequently supply her with these substances, and despite her reluctance, he persisted in persuading her to comply with his demands.

She was reportedly told by Hamilton, “This is what you do when you are in a relationship,” a comment that underscores the manipulative and coercive nature of his actions. The girl, overwhelmed by fear, did not tell anyone about the abuse at the time, keeping her silence for nearly twenty years. It was only in 2015, when she confided in her partner, that the authorities were alerted. This revelation led to Hamilton’s arrest and subsequent charges.

Hamilton was scheduled for sentencing at the end of the previous year but claimed that he believed the girl was over 16 at the time of their sexual encounters, asserting that the acts were consensual. However, Sheriff Lindsay Foulis clarified that the Crown’s case indicated Hamilton was aware of her age, which was just 15. The court deferred sentencing to allow for a mitigation hearing last month, a procedural step that was not insisted upon, thereby sparing the victim additional trauma by avoiding a court appearance.

His sentencing, originally set for Wednesday, has been postponed until next month to give his new legal team more time to review the case documents. Hamilton’s name has already been entered into the Sex Offenders’ Register, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the ongoing legal consequences he faces for his actions in Forgandenny and surrounding areas.