MAN JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT OF 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN WEST LOTHIAN

A 48-year-old man named Wayne Phillipson has been convicted of multiple sexual offences against a 12-year-old girl in the West Lothian area in September 2021. He was found guilty at the High Court in Livingston on August 21, 2024, and was sentenced on February 21, 2025, at the High Court in Glasgow. Phillipson has been sentenced to seven years in prison and has received an Order for Lifelong Restriction. Additionally, he has been placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period. Detective Inspector Craig Higgins from the Child and Adult Protection Unit in Livingston commented: “Phillipson is a dangerous sexual predator who subjected this young girl to a horrendous ordeal and now faces the consequences of his actions. I commend the girl for her strength in reporting his offending and throughout the legal proceedings and hope that this can bring her and her family closure as they continue to move forward with their life. I’d urge anyone who has been a victim of a sexual crime or has suffered sexual abuse, regardless of when it happened, to come forward and report it to us. All reports are thoroughly investigated, and we have specially trained officers who, alongside our partner agencies, will support you throughout.”