JEAN KIRKLAND FROM AYR AND BLANTYRE SPARED JAIL AFTER BRUTAL ASSAULT ON 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Ayr and Blantyre, Jean Kirkland, aged 61, was found guilty of subjecting an 11-year-old girl to severe physical abuse during two separate incidents. Despite the gravity of her actions, Kirkland was not sentenced to prison but received a 12-month restriction of liberty order, which prohibits her from leaving her home between 8pm and 8am.

The first incident took place at a caravan park in Ayrshire, where Kirkland was caring for the young girl while on holiday. The child, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, recounted the harrowing experience in court, describing how Kirkland assaulted her in a manner that left her with a 'burst face.' She explained that she was kicked 'like a football' and forced to lie on the ground 'like a dog.' During this assault, her nose and lip were injured, and Kirkland poured hot water onto her skin, causing significant pain. Additionally, a bag of rubbish was tipped over her head, further humiliating and hurting her.

The girl also detailed a subsequent attack at a residence in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, where Kirkland continued her abusive behavior. The young victim expressed her feelings of betrayal, as she had looked up to Kirkland as a maternal figure. However, she felt compelled to report the abuse because she recognized that what was happening was wrong. She revealed that Kirkland had threatened her with homelessness if she disclosed the abuse and warned her she would be sent to a children’s home.

During her testimony, the girl described the caravan incident in detail, stating, “It was the worst thing that happened to me, I was punched and kicked because I had accidentally hit the wall of the caravan with my knee. She told me to lie on the floor like a dog, threw a bottle at me and stood on my hand, and made me sleep on the floor. She was hitting me and my face was burst so she dragged me to the bathroom and put my head under the tap and said look at the state of your face. I then sat on the edge of her bed and she kicked me again, it was like a football. I was screaming. I was still wet and she sent me to the swimming baths with a phone and said to text her when I got there and say I had fallen down the stairs and to come and get me. I did it and someone else asked what had happened to me and she said I had fallen down the stairs. I didn’t want to say what had really happened because I loved her as a mum and she took us on holiday and provided us with clothes but it wasn’t right and I’m not lying about what happened. She also poured hot water over me, it wasn’t enough to take my skin off but it was still really sore and she also tipped rubbish over me as well.”

The young girl expressed feelings of isolation, stating, “I felt like I had nobody I could turn to over this and that is why I didn’t tell anybody what had happened, just a few of my friends.”

Judge Marie Smart delivered the sentence, condemning Kirkland’s behavior as “quite frankly appalling.” She emphasized that the victim was threatened into silence and that her testimony was credible and truthful. The court’s decision reflects the serious nature of the abuse, even though Kirkland was spared imprisonment. The case highlights the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions, regardless of their relationship to the victim.