KENNETH COPLAND'S HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN ABERDEEN SPANNING THREE DECADES
In a chilling case that has shocked the community of Aberdeen, Kenneth Copland, a 67-year-old man, was convicted of a long history of heinous child abuse that extended over nearly three decades.The High Court in Glasgow heard harrowing details of his crimes, which left a profound and lasting impact on his victims.
Copland’s criminal conduct was described as 'appalling' by the presiding judge, Lord Beckett, during the sentencing hearing.
The court was informed that Copland had previously been convicted of rape and nine charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour, indicating a disturbing pattern of predatory actions.
His latest conviction involved abusing nine young girls and boys over a period of 29 years, from the 1960s through the early 1990s.
The abuse took place at various addresses across Aberdeen, with one victim recounting how she was attacked “too many times” to count.
The court heard that Copland exploited his position of trust to commit these acts, often targeting particularly vulnerable children.
Lord Beckett condemned his actions as 'an appalling course of criminal conduct,' emphasizing the gravity of his crimes and their devastating effects on the victims.
In September 2016, Copland was found guilty after a three-day trial at the High Court in Aberdeen.
The court proceedings revealed that he had denied the charges, which included nine counts of lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices, as well as a charge of raping a young girl on multiple occasions.
The jury was informed that the offences involved nine different victims, with incidents occurring at various locations within Aberdeen.
During the trial, a woman who could not be named for legal reasons testified about her traumatic experiences.
She recounted how Copland had raped and abused her when she was a child, describing feelings of shock and terror during the assaults.
When asked about the frequency of the abuse, she responded simply, “Too many times.” Her testimony underscored the brutal and repeated nature of Copland’s crimes.
Following the guilty verdict, Judge Beckett announced that he would defer sentencing to allow for a background report to be prepared.
He made it clear that despite the offences occurring many years ago, they remain extremely serious.
The judge stated, “You will go to prison for a significant period in due course,” indicating that Copland would face a substantial custodial sentence.
Defense counsel Mark Stewart QC requested that his client be allowed to remain on bail until sentencing, citing health issues.
However, Judge Beckett ordered Copland to be remanded in custody until his sentencing hearing scheduled for the following month at the High Court in Glasgow.
The case has brought to light the disturbing extent of child abuse in Aberdeen and the lasting scars left on the victims by Kenneth Copland’s actions.
