DOUGLAS BROWN SENTENCED IN DUMFRIES FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEX ABUSE

A man accused of heinous sexual offenses against three young girls has been sentenced to a five-year prison term. Douglas Brown, aged 60, faced the court in Dumfries on Tuesday, where the severity of his crimes prompted Sheriff Scott Pattison to impose the maximum sentence permissible under the law.

During the hearing, the sheriff commended the bravery of the victims who came forward to testify against Brown, acknowledging their courage in revealing the details of their suffering. One of these victims, now 26 years old and residing in Dumfries, expressed her relief at the sentence, stating that her time behind bars would grant her a much-needed sense of peace. She remarked, "I’m glad I don’t need to worry about bumping into him in the street or having him drive past me. On the other hand, he’s been sentenced to five years while I’ve been left with a life sentence of having to deal with what he did."

Brown, who resides at Palgowan Farm in Bargrennan, was convicted following an earlier trial. His sentencing had been postponed to allow for comprehensive background reports, including psychological assessments. Sheriff Pattison emphasized the gravity of the crimes, stating, "The jury found you guilty of sexually abusing three children and physically assaulting one of them. They were aged between five and 11 years old at the time, and the abuse was both persistent and prolonged. The abuse lasted for years. You were to blame and you were responsible. But for the bravery of the three girls, you could have avoided justice for these serious crimes."

In his sentencing remarks, the sheriff explained that after considering all the evidence and evaluations, only a custodial sentence could serve as appropriate punishment and deterrent. He added, "The sheer persistence of the abuse leads me to sentence you to the limit of my powers, which is five years imprisonment from today."

Details of the offenses reveal a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning several years. Between April 1, 2003, and February 28, 2006, Brown engaged in indecent practices with a girl who was just seven years old at the start of the abuse. He removed her clothing, touched her private parts, and forced her to perform a sex act on him. Similar offenses were committed against a second girl, also aged seven at the start, over a period extending from April 1, 2003, to May 25, 2008, at two different addresses in the region. Brown also subjected this girl to viewing pornographic material and had sex with a woman in her presence.

The youngest victim, only five years old at the time, was abused between April 1, 2003, and April 26, 2010, at two addresses. Brown entered her bed and sexually assaulted her. Court records also indicate that he had sex with a woman in her presence and caused the child to view pornography. The final charge involved violent physical assaults on the same young girl, including hitting her with his hand, grabbing her by the throat, pinning her against a wall, and making threats of violence. These incidents occurred between April 1, 2003, and July 3, 2011, at two addresses in the region.

The jury unanimously convicted Brown on the first, third, and fourth charges, and by majority verdict on the second. The victims have spoken out about the impact of his actions. One victim told the Standard that Brown had shown no remorse, stating, "He’s never apologized and in fact, seemed to think what he did had been blown out of proportion and wasn’t that bad. He thought he was above the law because he’s got plenty of money."

She further explained how the abuse had devastated her life, saying, "Since the day he started abusing me, my life hasn’t progressed in any way. I haven’t been able to connect to anybody, I’m scared of absolutely everything including even going outside and especially speaking to older men. It was only when one of the other victims reported the abuse that I decided to speak out and I’m glad I did even though I had to force myself to. I’d urge anyone else in the same situation to find someone they trust and tell them what’s happening. It’s only now that I can finally fix my mental health and sort out my life. Sometimes I think about what happened when I don’t want to. I’ve always felt full of shame and that I wasn’t normal. Brown is disgusting and I’m glad he’s not going to be around anymore children for a while."