COWDENBEATH MAN DAVID FERGUSON SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR ABUSING UNDER-AGE GIRLS IN ABERDEEN

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Cowdenbeath and the wider region, David Ferguson, a 60-year-old resident of Blamey Crescent, Cowdenbeath, was sentenced to a decade behind bars for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of two under-age girls. The crimes, which spanned nearly 12 years, came to light during a trial at Aberdeen High Court, where Ferguson was found guilty of multiple charges related to the exploitation of young girls, some of whom were as young as seven years old.

Ferguson, who has never married, exploited the innocence of the children when they visited his home to borrow videos, a seemingly innocent activity that masked a long history of abuse. Throughout the proceedings, Ferguson maintained his innocence, denying all charges and even being cleared of an additional rape charge when the Crown withdrew that particular allegation. Despite his denials, the jury returned a majority verdict, convicting him of two counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault on girls under 16, and one count of lewd and libidinous practices involving a child aged between 7 and 11 years.

The conviction was the culmination of a detailed investigation and trial that revealed the extent of Ferguson’s predatory behavior. The jury’s decision was based on evidence presented from two victims, both of whom testified about the abuse they endured at his hands. One of the victims, now aged 24, tearfully recounted how Ferguson groped and fondled her when she was just seven years old, sitting on his knee during visits to borrow videos. She described how the abuse escalated over the next six years, including indecent assaults and repeated rapes, often after stripping her and pinning her to the floor of his video cupboard with his body.

She further revealed that Ferguson raped her in his bathroom after asking her to clean a fish tank ornament, threatening to harm her younger sister if she disclosed the abuse. The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, gave her testimony from behind a screen, explaining that she never returned to Ferguson’s flat after the assault at age 11 and did not disclose the abuse until 2008, five years later.

The second victim, now aged 20, also provided a chilling account of her experience. She described how Ferguson had groped her when she was 15, sticking his hand down her trousers, and later raped her after removing her lower clothing and pinning her to the bathroom floor—mirroring the earlier victim’s ordeal. She recounted that the assault occurred on her 15th birthday when she visited Ferguson’s flat to collect a present and card, after which she never returned.

Her father played a crucial role in encouraging her to report Ferguson to the police. When she was contacted through the Child Support Agency, she disclosed the abuse, prompting police investigations. Records from the police revealed the allegations of the first victim, which had previously been uncorroborated, but under the Moorov doctrine—allowing victims of similar crimes to support each other’s testimonies—the Crown was able to secure Ferguson’s conviction.

During the sentencing hearing, advocate depute Richard Goddard highlighted Ferguson’s criminal history, which includes three prior convictions for lewd, libidinous, and indecent practices, with the most recent dating back to 1985. The judge, Lord Kinclaven, ordered a report on Ferguson’s background from criminal justice social work and requested additional medical and psychological assessments before final sentencing. Ferguson was remanded in custody until his sentencing at Aberdeen High Court scheduled for January 23.

Furthermore, the court ordered that Ferguson’s name be added to the Sex Offenders’ Register and that his conviction be reported to Scottish Ministers under the provisions of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007, ensuring ongoing monitoring and safeguarding measures against further offenses.