August 2006 Pensioner jailed for child abuse A 72-year-old man who sexually abused two girls at a house in Stenhousemuir, near Falkirk, in the early 70s has been jailed for 28 months. Roy Furby’s victims, who are now married women in their 40s, had kept silent about what had happened to them. Both women said they the abuse had caused them difficulties in later life. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that since the offences came to light, Furby’s wife had left him and he had no contact with his 13 grandchildren. Defence QC Ian Duguid said Furby suffered from ill health and was living alone and isolated in a hostel in Grangemouth. He urged the sheriff to show leniency, and said Furby was saving his victims from having to give evidence by pleading guilty. Victims’ lives In 2003 one of the victims told a friend what had happened to her as a child and later told her family. Police were brought in two years later. One blamed years of self-harm, depression and eating disorders on the abuse. The other woman said she had also suffered depression and panic attacks. Judge Lord Abernethy said the law in force at the time of the offences, between 1971 and 1974, dictated that the maximum sentence he could impose was two years on each charge. The judge said he was able to take into account Furby’s lack of record, ill health and that the abuse had taken place a long time ago. However, he added: “They also, it appears, had a very serious effect on the subsequent lives of the two victims.”