ROBERT HENDERSON FROM YELL AND SHETLAND JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST GIRLS AND WOMEN

In a significant legal case that has sent shockwaves through the Shetland community, Robert Henderson, a 74-year-old man from Yell, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of multiple sexual assault charges. Henderson, who previously served as a councillor and was a well-known figure in Shetland's local business scene, faced a series of serious allegations that spanned several decades.

Henderson had entered a plea of not guilty to seven charges brought against him. Among these was a charge that he raped a woman, now in her 60s, twice in 1990 on the island of Yell. However, after a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen, the jury reached a majority verdict that this particular charge was not proven. Despite this, Henderson was convicted on other counts involving sexual misconduct.

The court heard that the abuse involving two girls began when one of them was only 11 years old. These allegations date back to the 1970s, highlighting a disturbing pattern of misconduct over many years. The trial also revealed that Henderson was guilty of inappropriate touching of two women in the early 1990s, further compounding the seriousness of his actions.

During the sentencing hearing at the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Lord Kinclaven addressed Henderson directly. While acknowledging that the charge of rape had not been proven, the judge emphasized the gravity of the remaining convictions. He stated, “I’m satisfied that there is no alternative to a custodial sentence. The offences cover a significant period of time, and the court requires to mark the seriousness of your offending.”

As part of his sentence, Henderson was also ordered to register as a sex offender, a measure intended to monitor his conduct and protect the community. The case has brought to light the long-standing issues of abuse and the importance of justice for victims who endured these crimes over many years in the Shetland and Yell communities.