PERTHSHIRE MAN SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRLS

A man who admitted to a series of sexual offences against young girls has been sentenced to 12 years in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh. Victor Smart, aged 53, from Victoria Road, Auchterarder, Perthshire, pleaded guilty to a catalogue of sexual offences including indecent behaviour and unlawful sexual intercourse, committed over a five-year period against four girls. The first victim, who was only six years old at the time, confided in her mother about the abuse. Smart's offenses came to light earlier this year after her revelation. During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Smart had warned the other victims that if they disclosed the abuse, they would not be believed and would be blamed. The mother of one victim reportedly armed herself with a kitchen knife, threatening to kill Smart when she found out about the abuse, but others managed to take away the weapon. Advocate-depute Bruce Kerr described this as a "dreadful catalogue of abuse of young girls." Defense lawyer Derek Ogg stated that Smart was guilt-racked, suffering from a personality disorder, allegedly related to past abuse he had endured as a child. Ogg also mentioned that Smart's wife died after taking an overdose following the revelations, which she attributed to the shame brought on by Smart's actions. The court was told that Smart has been held in solitary confinement since June after his arrest. Judge Lord Prosser emphasized the seriousness of the crimes, telling Smart, "I don't suppose that you really understand why you did what you did, but it is plainly of the utmost seriousness." The sentence was met with applause from the victims' relatives present in court.