PETER WATSON ALLOA SEX OFFENDER JAILED FOR RAPE AND CHILD ABUSE IN SCOTLAND

In September 2017, a man from Alloa was sentenced to prison for a series of heinous crimes involving sexual assault and abuse spanning several decades. Peter Watson, aged 69, was convicted of raping a woman on her 18th birthday over 39 years ago and also of sexually abusing two young children more than 20 years ago. The shocking revelations about his crimes only came to light after two of his victims unexpectedly encountered each other at a wedding celebration years later, leading to the investigation and subsequent conviction.

Judge Lady Rae, presiding over the case at the High Court in Glasgow, sentenced Watson to a total of eight years and three months behind bars. She described his actions as an “appalling catalogue of crime,” emphasizing the severity and impact of his offenses. The court heard detailed accounts of the incidents, which spanned a significant period and involved vulnerable victims.

Prosecutor Lynsey MacDonald provided a detailed account of the 1978 rape, which took place when Watson was 30 years old. She explained that the victim, a young woman celebrating her birthday with friends, ended up at Watson’s residence. She fell asleep fully dressed on his living room couch. During the night, Watson entered the room, removed her trousers and underwear, and assaulted her while she was disoriented and confused. Despite her protests and telling him to stop, Watson continued the assault for an additional five to ten minutes. The victim, who had never engaged in sexual intercourse before, chose not to disclose the incident at the time.

The case took a turn years later when the woman met another of Watson’s victims at a wedding. This second victim, now 49, confided in her about the abuse she suffered at Watson’s hands when he was babysitting her as a young child. She recounted that Watson had entered her bed and begun touching her when she was around five or six years old. Her abuse only stopped when she heard other adults returning home, prompting Watson to leave the room and claim, “I’m in the wrong bedroom.”

Further allegations emerged when another woman came forward, revealing that Watson had indecently assaulted her between the ages of nine and 14. She described how Watson would enter her bedroom dressed only in boxer shorts, instruct her to be quiet, and then proceed to touch her inappropriately. These incidents occurred over a period from 1982 to 1992.

Watson, who was identified as a first-time offender, admitted to the sexual abuse charges. His guilty plea led to his placement on the sex offenders register. Judge Lady Rae condemned his actions, stating, “This is an appalling catalogue of crime. You raped a young woman on her 18th birthday and some years later you went on to seriously abuse young children. Such offences could have a life-changing impact on children and a young woman. It beggars belief what you have done.” The case highlights the long-lasting trauma inflicted on victims and the importance of justice in addressing such grave offenses.