MAN SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRLS
Update 18/02/2026: William Farmer was sentenced at the High Court in Aberdeen to 11 years behind bars in 2019 for rape and three counts of sexual assault between 1981 and 1993.The Elgin man was also placed on the sex offenders register.
Farmer died inside HMP Glenochil in Alloa on April 19, 2025, aged 88.
...............................................................................................................................................................................................................
In a case that has shocked the local community, William Farmer, an 82-year-old resident of Elgin, Moray, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of multiple sexual offenses committed against two young girls over a span of more than a decade.
The High Court in Aberdeen heard harrowing details of the abuse, which took place at various addresses within Moray, and the case has brought to light the disturbing actions of a man who preyed on vulnerable victims over many years.
Farmer’s crimes date back to the early 1980s, with the earliest incidents occurring in December 1981.
The court was informed that he repeatedly assaulted one of his victims on numerous occasions between December 1981 and December 1989.
The abuse was not limited to a single incident; rather, it was a pattern of predatory behaviour that persisted over several years.
Additionally, there was an incident between December 1983 and December 1984 where Farmer sexually assaulted the same girl on another occasion.
The court also heard that between April 1984 and April 1993, Farmer began abusing a second young girl.
His actions spanned over a decade, highlighting a disturbing pattern of exploitation and violence against these vulnerable victims.
The details of these assaults were revealed during the trial, which concluded last month, with jurors convicting Farmer of a charge of rape and three counts of sexual assault.
Throughout the proceedings, Farmer maintained his innocence, denying any wrongdoing.
However, the evidence presented was compelling enough for the jury to find him guilty.
Following the verdict, the judge, Lord Kinclaven, expressed his condemnation of Farmer’s actions and emphasized the necessity of a custodial sentence.
In his remarks, he stated, “There is no other sentence I can impose in these circumstances.
A custodial sentence is needed to reflect the seriousness of the offence.” Farmer’s conviction has led to his registration on the Sex Offenders Register, a measure that aims to monitor individuals convicted of sexual crimes and prevent further offenses.
The case has left a lasting impact on the victims and their families, as well as the wider community in Moray, where concerns about safety and justice have been heightened by this disturbing case.
