WILLIAM GRUBB SENTENCED IN MONTROSE FOR DECADES-OLD CHILD RAPE CASES IN ANGUS AND ABERDEENSHIRE

In a significant case that has spanned over three decades, William Grubb, a 71-year-old resident of Montrose, has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for the heinous crimes of child rape committed during the 1970s. The court proceedings took place at the High Court in Edinburgh, where Grubb appeared to face the consequences of his long-ago actions.

William Grubb, who is visibly frail and walks with the aid of a stick, admitted to the sexual assaults on two teenage girls, aged 14 and 16 at the time, in the regions of Angus and Aberdeenshire. These offenses occurred during the early to mid-1970s, a period marked by his employment on farms in those areas. The court heard that some of the rapes took place within farm buildings where Grubb was working, adding a layer of betrayal given his position of trust.

During the sentencing, Judge Lord Carloway expressed his uncertainty about the full extent of the harm inflicted upon the victims, stating, “It’s impossible for me to gauge what damage has been done to them (the girls).” The judge emphasized that Grubb had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of repeated rape, acknowledging the severity of his crimes. He noted that the offenses involved girls between the ages of 14 and 16, and that the crimes had been committed over a span of several years.

While considering Grubb’s age and health—described as being in ill-health—the judge pointed out that if the case had gone to trial and resulted in a conviction, the sentence would have been nine years. As part of his punishment, Grubb was also ordered to register as a sex offender, a standard procedure in cases involving sexual crimes.

The Crown’s advocate depute, Alastair Brown, explained that the police investigation uncovered evidence suggesting that the rapes were not isolated incidents but appeared to have been committed on a fairly regular basis. The exact number of assaults could not be determined, but the pattern of abuse was evident from the information received.

Defense counsel Mark Stewart, QC, acknowledged Grubb’s understanding that his actions warranted imprisonment. He highlighted that Grubb had no prior history of sexual offending and that his guilty pleas spared the victims the trauma of giving evidence in court. The court’s decision reflects a recognition of both the gravity of the crimes and the mitigating factors related to Grubb’s age and health, but also underscores the seriousness with which such offenses are regarded in Scottish law.