JAMES AINSWORTH OF LARGS SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN AYRSHIRE AND DUMFRIESSHIRE

In a case that has shocked the community of Largs and the wider regions of Ayrshire and Dumfriesshire, James Ainsworth, a 62-year-old former police officer, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after admitting to a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of 25 years. The High Court in Glasgow heard that Ainsworth pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual abuse and one count of rape, acknowledging his involvement in crimes against six children, both girls and boys, across different locations in Scotland.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Ainsworth's predatory behavior began when he was just 14 years old. His victims ranged in age from as young as eight months to as old as nine years at the time of the abuse. One of the most disturbing accounts involved a girl who was only eight years old when Ainsworth began abusing her, eventually raping her during the period when she was between eight and nine. The court was told that the girl, lacking proper sex education, did not understand what was happening to her, leading her to feel guilt and shame, believing that she was at fault for the abuse.

Further testimonies detailed how Ainsworth's abuse extended to three other girls, one of whom was assaulted inside a police residence in Ayrshire where he was stationed. One young girl, so traumatized by her experience, resorted to cleaning her teeth with powdered Vim, a testament to her distress. Ainsworth reportedly told her, “No-one will believe you. I am a police officer and something bad will happen to your mum,” further intimidating and silencing her.

In addition to his female victims, the court heard that Ainsworth also sexually abused a male child from the age of five. He would often pretend to be Spiderman before assaulting the boy, telling him, “That’s what the big boys do,” a phrase that underscores the manipulative nature of his abuse.

The court also learned of an incident involving a girl who was sexually abused while taking a shower. Ainsworth allegedly told her, “You will be dragged through the courts. I am a police officer and it will be my word against yours,” attempting to intimidate her into silence.

The proceedings were temporarily halted last year after Ainsworth was attacked outside the court and sustained serious injuries. A 31-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted murder in connection with that assault.

Judge Norman Ritchie QC, who presided over the case, expressed that Ainsworth’s guilty pleas spared the victims from having to testify again. Although he initially considered a 12-year sentence, he decided to reduce it by one year, acknowledging the effort to avoid retraumatizing the victims. The judge also ordered Ainsworth to be placed on the sex offenders’ register, emphasizing the severity of his crimes and the lasting impact on his victims.

Throughout the trial, the court was presented with evidence of Ainsworth’s calculated and predatory conduct, which spanned over two decades. His actions have left deep scars on the victims, some of whom were so affected that they resorted to extreme measures to cope with their trauma. The case has garnered significant attention in the local communities of Largs, Ayrshire, and Dumfriesshire, highlighting the importance of vigilance and justice in cases of child abuse.