CRAWFORD BUCHANAN SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN BAINSFORD AND LANGLEES

In October 2017, a disturbing case of long-term child abuse came to light involving Crawford Buchanan, a man from Bainsford, Falkirk. The victims, two women who endured years of violent and sexual misconduct, have spoken out publicly following Buchanan's sentencing in Falkirk Sheriff Court.

One of the victims, now aged 46, recounted her harrowing experiences, revealing that the abuse began when she was just seven years old. She described how Buchanan, who was unemployed and residing on Abbotsford Street in Bainsford, subjected her and her sister to a series of horrific acts at two addresses in Langlees over a span of two decades, from 1976 to 1996.

According to court records, Buchanan's abuse of the first victim started on November 27, 1976, and continued until November 26, 1985. During this period, he assaulted her on multiple occasions, forcing her to lower her clothing, striking her repeatedly with a belt and slipper, and slapping her on the head. The abuse escalated between 1981 and 1985, when Buchanan also engaged in inappropriate touching and forced her to perform sexual acts.

His second victim, now aged 46, was subjected to abuse from July 1979 until July 1996. She recounted that Buchanan forced her to strip, struck her with a belt, entered her bed attempting to kiss her, and repeatedly fondled her intimately. She also described how he rubbed himself against her during these encounters, further traumatizing her.

In addition to his crimes against the two women, Buchanan also assaulted a young boy over a period of 15 years starting in 1972. The boy was made to strip and was struck with a belt and slipper during these episodes.

On September 22, Buchanan was brought before Falkirk Sheriff Court, where he was sentenced to 20 months in prison. Furthermore, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years, a measure intended to monitor his activities and prevent further harm.

The victims, particularly the sister who is now 46, expressed their dissatisfaction with the length of the sentence. She stated, “I don’t think the sentence was sufficient, not for all those years of abuse. He should have got more but these cases can be hard to prove, however, it does mean he’ll probably be walking the streets again in ten months.”

She also shared her emotional struggles, revealing that her sister had spoken out about the abuse at the time, but her concerns were dismissed or ignored. She admitted to feeling scared to speak out earlier, fearing the repercussions. The sister explained, “It’s weird to say but I did have a close relationship with him and wanted things to appear normal for my children, but after there was a death in the family it all became too much to keep quiet about it.”

The case highlights the tragic and complex nature of long-term abuse, and the impact it has on victims who often carry these scars for years. Buchanan’s sentencing marks a significant, though perhaps insufficient, step in addressing these heinous crimes committed within the Falkirk community.