March 2009 Child abuser jailed A MAN who sexually abused a young boy over a 15-month period was jailed this week. Robert Turner (58) from Peterhead admitted assaulting the boy when they shared a house near Kirkcolm between 2000 and 2002. His lawyer told the court that Turner was clearly remorseful about the assaults on the son of his wife, from whom he is now separated. He also suggested that a rehabilitation programme would be more beneficial to Turner than a jail term and that such programmes are not available inside. But Sheriff Kenneth Robb said there was only one appropriate way to deal with the case and that was by way of custodial sentence. He said: “I see four years as the most appropriate sentence but I have listened to all that has been said in mitigation with regards to this case so will reduce the term accordingly.” Turner was jailed for 16 months instead and will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years.