KENNETH WALKER FROM SPEYSIDE JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF TWO SISTERS IN ABERLOUR

In December 1997, Kenneth Walker, a former minister based in Aberlour on Speyside, was sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted of sexually abusing two young girls, aged eight and three. The case, which was heard at Elgin Sheriff Court, revealed disturbing details of Walker's predatory behavior that spanned over a two-year period.

According to court proceedings, Walker, who was a father of four, entered the bedroom of the older girl while dressed only in his underpants. There, he inappropriately touched her private parts. The abuse was not an isolated incident; Walker repeated similar acts multiple times involving the younger sister as well. The court heard that these offenses occurred over an extended period, causing significant distress and harm to the children.

The jury, after a trial held last month, found Walker guilty of lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices. The evidence presented painted a disturbing picture of a man who exploited his position and trust to commit these heinous acts against vulnerable children.

Prior to these events, Walker's reputation had already been marred by allegations of child abuse. In May 1996, it was reported that the same Reverend Walker had physically assaulted his own children. Court testimonies detailed how he had beaten his five-year-old daughter, Hannah, with a belt until her feet bled, claiming it was punishment for being naughty. Hannah showed police her fingers, indicating she had been hit three times, and pointed out the belt buckle that had caused her injuries.

Other children, including six-year-old Jamie and eight-year-old Ruth, also suffered at Walker’s hands. Jamie expressed concern about the frequent beatings, stating, “I am worried because dad belts us a lot, a real lot.” The court heard that Walker’s violent discipline extended to all three children, with Hannah describing her injuries and showing the physical marks left by the belt.

Walker, aged 37 and residing in Aberlour, Speyside, admitted to amended charges of striking his children on the legs and feet with a belt. Since the allegations came to light in January, Walker has not seen his wife, Ann, or their children. He has been undergoing psychiatric treatment for the past 18 months, a period coinciding with the birth of his fourth child, Andrew, who has Down’s Syndrome.

Following the conviction, Walker was suspended from his ministerial duties. Sheriff Noel McPartlan acknowledged the gravity of the case and the need to consider imprisonment. However, he deferred sentencing to allow for a social inquiry, community service, and psychiatric reports to be prepared, indicating the seriousness with which the court viewed the offenses committed by Kenneth Walker in the Speyside community.