WILLIAM MACDONALD INVERNESS SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR ABUSE OF TWO YOUNG GIRLS
In a case that has shocked the community of Inverness, William Macdonald, aged 43, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of serious sexual offences committed against two underage girls.The crimes, which took place over several years, involved lewd conduct and inappropriate touching, and have left a lasting impact on the victims and their families.
Macdonald, who resides at Harbour Court in Inverness, was convicted by a jury at Inverness Sheriff Court last month.
The court heard that he engaged in lewd and libidinous behavior towards one girl and sexually assaulted another by touching her inappropriately.
Both victims, whose identities are protected by law, were under the age of 16 at the time of the offences.
Following the verdict, Macdonald was brought back to court for sentencing.
His legal representative, Marc Dickson, maintained that Macdonald continued to deny any wrongdoing.
While acknowledging previous convictions, Dickson emphasized that there were no similar offences in Macdonald’s criminal record.
Despite this, Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist QC made it clear that the offences represented a severe breach of trust, especially given the vulnerability of the young victims.
Sheriff Gilchrist stated, “These offences represent a gross breach of trust towards young children.
It is clear from the evidence that these offences have had a damaging effect on these children which continues to this day, and may well continue for some considerable period of time.” Outside the court, the mothers of the victims expressed their relief and satisfaction with the length of the sentence.
One mother remarked, “The girls can build their lives up again now.
They can get time to grow up in safety without having to worry about seeing him in the street.” Details of the offences revealed during the trial painted a disturbing picture.
It was disclosed that Macdonald fondled one of the girls after she entered his bed during a power outage, an incident that occurred between 2009 and 2010.
The girl was reportedly frightened of the dark at the time.
The second girl recounted waking up to find Macdonald touching her inappropriately, an incident that took place in 2012.
Earlier in March 2014, Macdonald was also found guilty of assaulting the same two girls.
The jury’s unanimous verdicts came after a two-day trial, during which the victims, now teenagers, expressed their relief and relief at justice being served.
Macdonald had denied the allegations, claiming the girls were lying.
The court heard that he accused the victims of falsehoods and denied engaging in any inappropriate conduct towards them.
Charges included lewd and libidinous practices towards one girl between September 2009 and September 2010, and inappropriate touching of the other girl, aged between 13 and under 16, between January and May 2012.
Sheriff Gilchrist has ordered background reports to be prepared before sentencing scheduled for 24 April.
The court was informed that both victims still require counseling, with one suffering a nervous breakdown due to the ordeal.
Outside the court, a mother of one of the girls expressed her feelings, saying, “The jury returned the right verdict.
Justice has been done.
It has been very tough on all of us because the case took so long to come to court.
He put the girls through a dreadful ordeal and again in the trial making them give evidence.
They were so brave and strong, much stronger than us mothers.” It was also revealed that Macdonald was babysitting the girls at the time of the assaults, which added to the gravity of the case and the breach of trust involved.
