ABERDEEN AND SHETLAND PENSIONER LIEF OLAF HENRICCSSEN AKA TONY HENRICCSSEN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE

A disturbing case of child sexual abuse has culminated in the sentencing of Lief Olaf Henriccssen, also known as Tony Henriccssen, a 70-year-old man with ties to both Aberdeen and Shetland. The court heard harrowing details of how Henriccssen subjected a young girl, aged between 11 and 13, to a series of heinous acts that included coercion, indecent photography, and sexual assault.

Henriccssen’s crimes came to light after the girl’s mother, during a routine conversation about sex education, revealed that her daughter had been touched and abused by the pensioner. This revelation prompted an investigation, which uncovered a trove of evidence including video recordings and digital images stored on Henriccssen’s computer. Police seized these materials from his residence, revealing footage of the man engaging in sexual acts with the girl, along with numerous indecent images.

According to court reports, the abuse took place primarily in Shetland, where the girl had visited Henriccssen’s home. Prosecutor Drew McKenzie detailed how the victim explained feeling increasingly intimidated by Henriccssen, who allegedly threatened to shoot her family if she did not comply with his demands. This intimidation was a key factor in her silence, preventing her from confiding in her mother earlier.

Henriccssen had previously admitted to engaging in unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl, as well as lewd and libidinous behavior, and taking indecent photographs of her during the late 1990s. These earlier offenses resulted in a conviction at the High Court in Aberdeen. The recent charges, which involved filming and photographing the abuse, were considered an extension of his predatory behavior.

During the court proceedings, the defense argued that Henriccssen’s guilty plea spared the young victim the trauma of testifying in court and viewing the explicit images. Nonetheless, Lord Marnoch, who presided over the case, expressed profound condemnation of Henriccssen’s actions. He described the abuse as a systematic debauchery over approximately 18 months, emphasizing the severity of the crimes. The judge stated, “You quite simply debauched a child. You used lewd and indecent behavior towards her and regularly had unlawful sexual intercourse with her. As if that was not enough, you also took a large number of disgustingly pornographic photographs of her.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Henriccssen was ordered to serve ten years in total—seven years behind bars followed by three years on supervised release. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register, reflecting the gravity of his offenses. Following his conviction, Henriccssen moved from Shetland to Aberdeen, possibly to start anew, but his past actions have now led to his permanent removal from society’s protective fabric.

Outside the courtroom, the victim’s mother expressed a mixture of relief and ongoing concern. She stated, “No sentence is long enough but it seems fairly fair. We are just glad that this man is no longer free to harm any more children.” She also spoke about her daughter’s recovery, saying, “She does not want to talk about it but I think she is beginning to come out the other side. When it came out, it was a big burden off her shoulders. She has been progressing and hopefully she will continue to progress.”

Regarding Henriccssen’s personal life, it was revealed that his wife, Elspeth (Elizabeth), was mostly at home during the period of the abuse. She now resides in the Isle of Skye and, despite their divorce, has retained his surname. Henriccssen was known locally as a photographer, contributing to community groups and the Shetland Times, which adds a layer of tragedy to his fall from community respectability.