GLASGOW PAEDOPHILE DAVID CASHFORD ESCAPES PUNISHMENT FOR DECADES-OLD SEX OFFENCES IN DUMBARTON
In a highly controversial case that has shocked the community, 80-year-old David Cashford, a resident of Glasgow's Kinning Park area, was recently granted a verdict of no punishment by the court despite being found responsible for seven serious sexual offences committed against children decades ago.The offences, which spanned from June 1972 to November 1985, involved six young boys and one young girl, all aged between seven and 14 at the time of the incidents.
One of the victims has since passed away.
These heinous acts took place primarily at a house in Dumbarton and also within a vehicle in the Dumbarton area.
The gravity of the allegations was established during a court hearing in June, where Sheriff Simon Pender examined the case and concluded beyond doubt that Cashford had committed all the acts he was charged with.
Despite this, the court's decision in the recent hearing was to impose no punitive measures against the pensioner.
The court was informed that Cashford suffers from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, conditions that significantly impair his mental capacity.
As a result, Sheriff Pender decided that no punishment was appropriate or feasible.
His legal representatives argued that Cashford was incapable of understanding or complying with the requirements of the sex offenders’ register, which led to the court not imposing this registration obligation.
Defense lawyer Brian McGuire emphasized that the current legislation is inadequate for individuals like Cashford, who are unable to comprehend or adhere to its stipulations.
In the recent hearing, Sheriff Pender explained that his options were limited to either imposing a guardianship order or making no order at all.
Ultimately, he chose to make no order, effectively ending the case without any form of punishment or supervision.
This decision has sparked considerable debate and concern among advocacy groups and the victims’ families.
One of the victims, now a 49-year-old man living in Glasgow, testified that he was forced to watch pornography on television at Cashford’s house when he was approximately 11 or 12 years old.
He recounted, “I made my excuses and left pretty quickly.
I only told one person about it, but finally gave a statement to police in 2017.” Another victim, aged 48, described how Cashford had touched him over his trousers, then unbuttoned and unzipped them to carry out sexual acts.
He revealed that this abuse was a regular occurrence, as Cashford was often babysitting him during these times.
Additionally, a 45-year-old woman recounted that Cashford had sexually assaulted her when she was just nine years old.
Despite the victims’ testimonies and the court’s findings that all seven charges were proven, Sheriff Pender concluded that the acts would have constituted crimes if Cashford had been fit to stand trial.
The case has left many questioning the justice system’s handling of elderly offenders with severe health issues, especially in cases involving such grave allegations of child abuse.
