JOHN HENDERSON FROM FORRES SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENSES IN ELGIN AND TOLBOOTH STREET

In a case that has spanned decades, John Henderson, a resident of Forres, was convicted and sentenced for serious sexual offenses committed against two young men. The incidents, which took place in different locations within the region, have brought to light troubling details about Henderson's actions and the lengthy legal process that followed.

According to court records presented at Elgin Sheriff Court on a recent Friday, Henderson, who previously served as a secretary for the Forres Mechanics Football Club, was found guilty of indecent assaults that occurred over a span of more than twenty years. The first assault was reported to have taken place between April 1979 and April 1981, during which Henderson attempted to remove a teenager’s clothing in the changing rooms of the football club. This incident was particularly disturbing given Henderson’s position within the community and the setting of the assault.

The second incident was reported to have occurred on December 22, 2001, in the toilets of the Newmarket Bar located on Tolbooth Street. Court proceedings revealed that Henderson followed a young man into the restroom and committed a sexual assault there. These events, separated by years and different locations, underscored a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned over two decades.

Henderson was initially detained for questioning in 2002, but it was not until 2017 that he was formally arrested and brought into custody after new evidence surfaced, prompting police to revisit the case. The lengthy delay between the alleged offenses and his arrest highlights the complexities often involved in prosecuting historical sexual abuse cases.

During the court hearing, Henderson’s defense argued that he should be spared from imprisonment due to his poor health, noting that he had suffered a stroke. Despite these pleas, Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov sentenced Henderson to 292 days in jail. Additionally, she ordered him to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

Furthermore, the court dismissed four other charges related to alleged incidents in Inverness and Forres after Henderson entered not guilty pleas, which were accepted by the court. These dismissals indicate that the evidence for those particular allegations was insufficient to proceed to trial or conviction. The case underscores the importance of justice for victims and the ongoing efforts to address sexual offenses, regardless of the passage of time.