ANGUS BROWN OF DALKEITH AND PENICUIK SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN MIDLOTHIAN

In a significant development in the fight against child abuse, Angus Brown, a 64-year-old man with connections to Dalkeith and Penicuik in Midlothian, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison following a series of disturbing sexual offenses against young girls. The sentencing took place at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where Sheriff Isabella McColl delivered the verdict amid applause from the gathered crowd, including the mother of one of the victims who expressed her relief and satisfaction with the outcome.

Brown’s criminal history is deeply troubling, with his abuse spanning over a decade and involving multiple victims. The first known victim, now aged 26, was just seven years old when Brown, then residing in Penicuik, subjected her to a sexual act. This abuse occurred at his home in Penicuik between 1988 and 1994, marking a long and traumatic period for the young girl. The victim later recounted that she was staying at Brown’s residence when the abuse began, and it continued for several years.

In addition to this initial victim, Brown was found to have sexually abused three other girls, aged between seven and 16, at an address in Penicuik from 1988 to 2001. One of these victims, now 21, came forward only recently, along with others, after a fourth victim, who had worked at Brown’s fast food van, decided to speak out. The victim who helped at the van was abused between 1996 and 2000, starting when she was just 12 years old.

Brown’s criminal activities only came to light after multiple victims reported their experiences, culminating in his admission of guilt last month. He pleaded guilty to five charges of lewd and libidinous behavior committed over a period spanning from 1988 to 2001, just before the trial commenced. The court also ordered Brown to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and mandated that he undergo supervised release for three years following his incarceration.

Following the sentencing, the mother of one of the victims expressed her feelings, stating, “We all feel we have gotten justice.” The case has brought to light the disturbing extent of Brown’s predatory behavior and underscores the importance of vigilance and reporting in protecting vulnerable children from abuse. The community in Midlothian, particularly in Dalkeith and Penicuik, can now find some measure of closure, knowing that justice has been served against a man who inflicted lasting harm on multiple young girls.