COLIN DISHART-WILLIAMS: EDINBURGH AND FIFE'S SERIAL SEX OFFENDER CAUGHT AFTER TERRIFYING ATTACKS
A dangerous sex offender, identified as Colin Dishart-Williams, was terrorizing the streets of Edinburgh and Fife, leaving a trail of fear and distress among women in the area.His spree of assaults, which began in early 2004, included flashing, masturbation, and increasingly violent sexual attacks, culminating in a brutal assault that prompted a major police investigation.
It all started in January 2004 when a 53-year-old female dentist was walking her dog in Coltbridge Gardens near the Water of Leith.
She was approached by a man who exposed himself and engaged in masturbation in front of her.
This incident alarmed the police, as most flashers typically only flash and then flee, but this individual appeared to be taking his perversion further, showing a disturbing willingness to linger and escalate his behavior.
On the very same day, two 19-year-old female students from Queen Margaret University reported similar encounters.
They had been walking through Clerwood Park when they were subjected to the same man exposing himself and masturbating in their presence.
Authorities quickly linked these reports, suspecting they were the work of the same individual, and launched a city-wide hunt for the perpetrator.
Over the following months, more women came forward with similar accounts, painting a disturbing picture of a man who was becoming increasingly brazen.
By March, the situation had worsened significantly.
A teenage girl walking along Drum Brae Drive was approached by a man who grabbed her breast and growled, “Don’t you want to come along and play with me?” She fought him off, pushing his hand away, and managed to run to a nearby bus stop where other people were present.
Her ordeal was over, but the threat persisted.
However, the situation escalated further when a 22-year-old nurse, a devout Christian, was targeted in a secluded area near Blackford Hill.
She was taking a quiet walk and reading her Bible when the attacker approached her, asking politely, “Do you have the time, please?” Suddenly, he pulled out a long-bladed knife, pressed it against her, and roughly grabbed her, ordering her towards some nearby bushes.
The area was deserted, and her peaceful outing turned into a nightmare.
The attacker falsely claimed he was just going to mug her, but his true intent was far more sinister.
Behind the bushes, she was subjected to a horrific sexual assault.
He ordered her to count for five minutes, warning that if she moved or made a sound, he would return and harm her further.
Paralyzed with fear, she sat in the bushes, counting the minutes, terrified that he was still watching her.
Eventually, she managed to get to her feet and run for help.
The police, upon hearing her account, grew increasingly concerned.
They believed the same man was responsible for multiple assaults and flashing incidents across Edinburgh.
His behavior appeared to be escalating, with more frequent attacks and the presence of a weapon—specifically, the knife—raising fears that he might commit even more violent acts, including rape or murder.
Despite the police’s efforts, many victims were reluctant to come forward, either due to embarrassment or a lack of confidence that the attacker would be caught.
The true extent of the assaults was likely much higher than reported.
The police recognized the urgent need for a public warning and a way to identify the suspect before anyone was seriously harmed.
They decided to utilize the popular TV program Crimewatch to broadcast a reconstruction of the attacker based on victims’ descriptions.
One man, watching the program, recognized the features and the distinctive ring worn by the suspect.
He also remembered having met the attacker before and was certain he had seen him in Edinburgh.
This man’s suspicions led him to confide in a staff member, who then contacted the police.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect was Colin Dishart-Williams, a 37-year-old bagpipe-maker from Dunfermline who worked in Edinburgh.
The police quickly linked him to the series of assaults, including the Blackford Hill attack, and other sexual offenses committed over a short period in 2004.
Dishart-Williams had a troubling criminal history.
In 1993, at Dunfermline Sheriff Court, he was convicted of 16 charges of indecent behavior, two counts of indecent assault, and one of assault, and was placed on probation.
His pattern of disturbing behavior dated back to his youth, and authorities believed he was escalating in severity.
In 2005, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Dishart-Williams was found guilty of the Blackford Hill sexual assault, another sex attack, and exposing himself to eight women during 2004.
The court was told of his prior convictions, and the judge, Lord Carloway, described him as a serious danger, noting that his behavior was worsening.
The court sentenced him to six years in prison and ordered that he be supervised for eight years after his release.
Outside the court, public opinion was strongly in favor of a life sentence, reflecting the community’s outrage at his actions.
The case served as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses, and the importance of vigilant law enforcement to protect women from such predators.
For the women of Edinburgh and Fife, the hope was that the lengthy sentence would be enough to prevent him from harming anyone else.
