CHRISTOPHER ALDRIDGE FROM CARDENDEN, FIFE, SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN DUNFERMLINE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Christopher Aldridge, a 76-year-old former police officer residing in Golf View, Cardenden, Fife, was sentenced to prison for a prolonged period of sexual abuse involving a young girl. The abuse, which spanned over five years, began when the victim was only nine years old and took place at Aldridge’s residence in Dunfermline.

During the court proceedings at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, it was revealed that Aldridge had previously served in the British Transport Police before transitioning into a career as a driving instructor. His move to Scotland occurred after living in Surrey, and he settled in Dunfermline with his wife in 2001. Despite his professional background, Aldridge’s actions have cast a dark shadow over his reputation and have caused significant distress to the victim and her family.

The court heard that the abuse took place at Dover Park, Dunfermline, between August 2005 and August 2010. The young girl, who is now 26 years old, was regularly looked after by Aldridge and his wife during her childhood. The offences involved a series of heinous acts, including touching her over and under her clothing, grabbing her, dragging her along the floor, and touching her breasts. The most serious allegations included forcing his hand inside her lower clothing and penetrating her private parts with his fingers. These acts were described as lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices.

It was also disclosed that Aldridge, at one point, told the girl, “please don’t tell anybody,” warning her that he would “get in big trouble” if she revealed what was happening. The abuse was not a one-time event but occurred multiple times until the girl reached the age of 14. The victim initially chose to remain silent, feeling sorry for Aldridge and not wanting him to face consequences. However, her silence was broken when she shouted “help” in an attempt to alert someone nearby during one of the incidents. Other times, she was physically restrained—pinned to the kitchen floor or locked in the toilet, where Aldridge used a coin to unlock the door and continued his assault.

When she was 14, the victim became visibly upset and confided in her mother, expressing her reluctance to return to Aldridge’s home. Despite her distress, Aldridge told her, “You can’t tell anyone what’s been going on,” further silencing her. It was only in 2012 that Aldridge admitted to his wife that he had been touching the girl. At that time, he agreed to seek counselling, and the police were not immediately involved. However, after Aldridge disclosed his actions to a counsellor, law enforcement was eventually contacted.

Initially, the victim, then 15, hesitated to fully disclose the extent of the abuse to police officers out of fear for Aldridge’s repercussions. He was cautioned and charged, but no further action was taken at that time. It was only in March 2021, after an incident triggered old memories, that the victim provided a detailed statement to the police, revealing the full scope of the abuse she endured.

During sentencing, the court considered a social work report that was described as “not particularly good reading” by defence solicitor Stephen Morrison. The report highlighted that Aldridge had attempted to justify the abuse by describing the girl’s game of tag as “sexual provocation,” a claim that the court and the prosecution found deeply troubling. Sheriff Charles Macnair emphasized that Aldridge’s attitude demonstrated a clear victim-blaming mentality, stating, “It makes it abundantly clear that you blame her,” and adding, “She was far too young to be blamed for anything.”

Throughout the proceedings, Aldridge showed no genuine remorse for his actions, only expressing regret about being caught. The sheriff condemned his minimization of the crimes and his lack of empathy for the victim. As a result, Aldridge was sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Additionally, he was subjected to an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order and was placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions related to his conduct.