HUGH ROBERTSON FROM AYR SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

In September 2010, Hugh Robertson, a 67-year-old resident of Ayr, was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing three girls nearly three decades earlier. The abuse occurred between May 1981 and July 1984, beginning when the victims were just five, seven, and nine years old.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard details about how Robertson also assaulted one of the girls at a house in Tarbolton, Ayrshire, attempting to rape her during one incident. Additionally, he was required to register as a sex offender.

The court was told that Robertson would remove the children’s clothing, show them pornographic magazines, and carry out sexual acts with them. Judge Lord Pentland described his actions as “highly reprehensible”, stating: “It is clear you gained the trust of these girls and then took advantage of them when alone with them in your house.”

He further condemned Robertson for betraying the trust placed in him by the victims and abusing them for his own sexual gratification, emphasizing that this conduct is “highly reprehensible.”

The judge noted that Robertson appeared to have little remorse or insight into the harm caused by his actions and stressed the importance of the sentence in reflecting the gravity of his conduct, society’s condemnation, and the damaging impact on the victims.

Lord Pentland also recommended that Robertson’s name should be added to a list of individuals deemed unsuitable to work with children.