WILLIAM WALKER FROM ARBROATH JAILED FOR BREACHING SEX OFFENDER ORDER IN SCOTLAND

In November 2014, William Walker, a known sex offender from Arbroath, was sentenced to serve time in prison after he was found to have violated the strict conditions of his release order. Walker, who was previously incarcerated at Perth, appeared before Forfar Sheriff Court to face charges related to his breach of a court-imposed restriction.

Walker had been convicted in 2010 for a series of sex offences and was subsequently subjected to a court order that prohibited him from approaching or being in contact with young girls. As part of his release conditions, he was also mandated to inform police of any change of address that could potentially bring him into contact with minors. Despite these clear directives, Walker failed to comply with the terms of his supervision.

Specifically, between December 1 of the previous year and August 16, Walker was found to have stayed at a woman’s residence in Arbroath where a child was present. This was a direct violation of his court order, and the breach was brought to light when authorities conducted an investigation. On August 21 at approximately 1:30 pm, two detective constables, accompanied by a witness from Child Protection services, visited the address to verify reports that Walker had been there.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution, led by depute fiscal Jill Drummond, explained that Walker’s visits to the woman’s home typically occurred on Fridays, with him remaining there until Sundays. This pattern of behavior raised concerns given his previous convictions and the restrictions placed upon him.

Walker’s legal representative, solicitor Ian Myles, acknowledged his client’s breach but emphasized that Walker had been sentenced to 21 months in prison in 2010, with a period on licence that included the order not to approach minors. Myles expressed that Walker was “at a loss” when it came to explaining his past actions to the woman with whom he was staying.

In a statement from the court, Sheriff Pino Di Emidio highlighted the seriousness of the breach, stating, “Although there is no suggestion of impropriety, he put himself in a position where he could have gone on to abuse.” Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the sheriff sentenced Walker to a year in jail, with the sentence being backdated to August 22 to account for his time in custody.

Earlier in his criminal history, Walker’s conduct had already been deemed egregious. In March 2010, he was convicted of sexually abusing a young girl in Angus. During that case, it was revealed that Walker, then 45 years old, had given his victim sweets and money before molesting her. For this “appalling course of conduct,” he was sentenced to nearly two years in prison and was placed on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years, as ordered by Sheriff Kevin Veal.

Walker’s repeated violations and the nature of his offences underscore the ongoing concerns about his conduct and the potential risk he poses to the community in Arbroath and beyond.