ROBERT YOUNG WISHAW PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED TO NEARLY FOUR YEARS IN PRISON

In October 2017, a disturbing case unfolded in Hamilton involving Robert Young, a 70-year-old man from Wishaw, who was convicted of heinous crimes committed against young girls nearly five decades ago. The court heard that Young, a pensioner, had engaged in a series of sexual offenses spanning from the late 1960s through the 1980s, with his actions leaving a lasting impact on his victims.

During the proceedings, Young appeared before Sheriff Marie Smart, where he made a heartfelt plea, requesting the court to consider his circumstances. He explained that his wife was gravely ill and that a custodial sentence would prevent him from being by her side during her final days. Young expressed his deep concern about the possibility of never seeing his wife again if he were incarcerated, emphasizing his desire to spend meaningful time with her before her condition worsened.

Despite his pleas, the court did not grant his request. Sheriff Smart sentenced Young to a total of three years and nine months in prison on Wednesday. The sentencing followed a conviction that was handed down in his absence last month, after Young had fled the court during his trial to tend to his dying cat, an act that further complicated his case.

Young’s criminal history was read out, revealing a pattern of disturbing behavior. He was found guilty of abusing a young girl at a residence in Wishaw between 1967 and 1970. Additionally, he was convicted of indecently handling the breasts of an adolescent girl in the late 1970s, with incidents occurring at a house in Glasgow and in a wooded area near Cambusnethan Priory. Prosecutors, however, dropped charges related to two alleged offenses in Wishaw from the late 1970s and early 1980s, and Young was acquitted of lewd and indecent practices against a girl between 1985 and 1988.

Throughout the trial, Young’s legal representatives expressed disagreement with the jury’s guilty verdict. His lawyer stated that Young, who had been remanded in custody prior to sentencing, was finding prison life particularly challenging. The lawyer described him as a hardworking man who had maintained steady employment since leaving school, suggesting that a community payback order might be a more suitable punishment. The defense also requested a delay in sentencing to allow Young to spend time with his ailing wife, citing her serious health condition and his concern that he might not see her alive again.

However, Sheriff Smart dismissed these arguments, criticizing Young as “opportunistic” and “a predator.” She pointed out that he had shown no remorse for his actions and was at a high risk of reoffending, based on the findings of his criminal justice social work report. The sheriff also accused Young of lacking compassion for his victims and treating the court proceedings as a joke. She further revealed that Young had previously absconded from court, allegedly in an attempt to have the trial halted and force his victims to relive their trauma through additional testimony.

In sentencing, Young received 15 months in prison on the first charge and an additional 30 months on the second, with the sentences to run consecutively. The sentences were backdated to August 31, reflecting the time he had already spent in custody. The court’s decision underscores the severity of his crimes and the ongoing concern for the safety of potential future victims.