ALEXANDER KEMP FROM SUTHERLAND SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN THE HIGHLANDS

In a case that has spanned decades, Alexander Kemp, a man from Sutherland, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against young girls in the Highlands region during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The criminal case came to light after one of Kemp's victims, who later became a mother, decided to come forward and report her traumatic experiences to the police in 2015. Her courage prompted authorities to trace and identify four additional victims, all of whom subsequently agreed to testify against Kemp in court.

During the trial, the woman who had initially reported the abuse expressed her feelings about the impact of silence and the importance of speaking out. She stated, “The more I looked at her little face, the more I realised that people like me keeping quiet made the world a worse place.” Her testimony was a pivotal part of the proceedings, shedding light on the extent of Kemp’s crimes.

Alexander Kemp, now aged 64, vehemently denied all allegations, claiming that the women were fabricating stories. However, the evidence presented in court was overwhelming and emotionally charged. The offenses took place in Sutherland between 1988 and 1992, during which Kemp was accused of raping an eight-year-old girl and sexually abusing four other young girls.

The court heard that Kemp’s criminal history extended beyond these incidents. In 1992, he was driven out of a Highland town after being convicted of possessing indecent images of children. Public outrage was intense, with the word “pervert” painted on his home, forcing him to flee the area.

Further legal troubles followed. In 1998, Kemp was sentenced to 11 years in prison at York Crown Court after being convicted of raping girls under 16 and sexually abusing girls under 14. His arrest at that time was facilitated by an appeal broadcast on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme in 1997, which helped authorities identify him.

More recently, in 2010, Kemp faced another conviction at Hull Magistrates Court, where he was sentenced to 15 counts of making indecent photographs of children. His defense lawyer, Derick Nelson, stated that Kemp was unemployed due to health issues and had been residing in England for several years.

On Tuesday, at the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Norman Ritchie sentenced Kemp to ten years in prison. The judge described Kemp as a “contemptible man who has damaged lives beyond measure,” emphasizing the overwhelming and distressing evidence against him. He praised the bravery of the women who testified, noting, “It is a testament to their character they made their complaints and gave evidence against you.”

Following his conviction, Kemp was ordered to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. The case highlights the long-lasting scars inflicted by sexual abuse and the importance of justice for victims who find the strength to come forward after years of silence.