GAVIN GOUDIE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN TRANENT

In August 2017, Gavin Goudie, a 70-year-old retiree from Tranent, was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing a young girl over a four-year period.

Goudie had assaulted the daughter of a friend, who was then 12 years old, during visits to his home in Tranent in the early 1980s. The girl, who was a primary school pupil at the time, was subjected to multiple forms of abuse, including being kissed on the mouth and body, as well as being touched sexually. He also forced her to touch him sexually and simulated sexual intercourse with her at his residence.

Goudie admitted to the offenses during a court appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last month, where he returned for sentencing. Sheriff Donald Corke remarked that Goudie had caused the girl "significant and long-lasting harm" and stated that, given the circumstances, only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

Goudie was sentenced to 12 months in prison and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.

It was previously reported that the abuse began on the girl’s 12th birthday and continued until the day before she turned 16. During his defense, solicitor Christopher Fehilly told the court that the girl had voluntarily visited Goudie’s home and that he had shown remorse, expressing “bitter regret” for his actions. Mr. Fehilly also noted that Goudie was struggling with personal issues at the time and was abusing alcohol, which he had ceased doing many years prior.

Sheriff Corke emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “This is a case where you pled guilty to amended offenses contrary to the Sexual Offenses Scotland Act and engaged in various forms of sexual activity against a neighbor’s daughter. Due to her age, there can be no question of blame or consent on her part. Your actions are likely to have caused significant and long-lasting physical harm, and there needs to be a deterrent. In my view, there is no method of dealing with you other than custody.”

Goudie’s guilty plea encompassed lewd and libidinous practices involving kissing, touching, coercing the girl to engage in sexual acts, and simulating sexual intercourse at his home between 1981 and 1985. He pleaded not guilty to engaging in unlawful sex during the same period, a charge that the Crown accepted.