STEVEN STRONACH SENTENCED IN FIFE FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL

A 57-year-old man named Steven Stronach from Fife has been formally sentenced after being convicted of a disturbing sexual assault involving a young girl aged just 12. The incident took place on August 3, 2023, at an address in Oakley, a village within Fife, where the assault occurred. According to court records, Stronach’s actions were both invasive and deeply troubling. He placed his hand beneath the girl’s clothing, touching her stomach and pulling her toward him in a manner that was clearly inappropriate. The assault escalated as he touched her inside her underwear, made an attempt to look under her pants, and even tried to remove them. The court also heard that Stronach attempted to kiss the girl on her lips and rubbed her leg with his hand, actions that compounded the severity of his misconduct.

Despite the conviction, Stronach, who resides on Stewart Crescent in Aberdeen, continues to deny the allegations. His defense lawyer, David Bell, argued that his client has been engaged in voluntary work at a warehouse, where he has no contact with the public or children. Mr. Bell emphasized that this work could potentially lead to future employment opportunities and demonstrated that Stronach is capable of performing unpaid work as a form of punishment. The lawyer also pointed out that Stronach leads a relatively isolated life and acknowledged the seriousness of the crime, but stressed that it was a single incident rather than a pattern of behavior.

Judge James Williamson, presiding over the case at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, described the offense as serious and a gross breach of trust. He took into account that this was Stronach’s first conviction and sentenced him to 300 hours of unpaid community work. Additionally, the judge placed him under offender supervision for a period of three years and mandated that he register as a sex offender for the same duration. The sheriff issued a stern warning that any breach of these conditions could result in a custodial sentence of up to two years.

Following the sentencing, a member of the public expressed their dissatisfaction with the outcome, stating, 'That’s not justice.' The case has left the community in Fife and Oakley shaken, highlighting the ongoing concerns about safeguarding vulnerable children and ensuring justice is served in cases of sexual misconduct.