ROY HUTCHESON SENTENCED IN BRECHIN FOR DECADES OF CHILD ABUSE AND CRUELTY

In a landmark case that has spanned nearly three decades, justice has finally been served for the victims of Roy Hutcheson, a pensioner from Brechin who carried out a prolonged and heinous campaign of sexual abuse and physical cruelty against children. The disturbing revelations emerged during a high-profile trial held at the High Court in Edinburgh, where Hutcheson, now aged 69, faced the consequences of his actions.

Hutcheson’s crimes primarily took place between 1973 and 1980, a period during which he subjected multiple children to unimaginable suffering. The court heard harrowing accounts of how Hutcheson not only sexually abused young victims but also inflicted physical punishment that left lasting scars. His methods included beating children with a belt and cruelly suspending them from doorways by their thumbs, often as punishment for minor misdeeds such as stealing a tin of fruit or losing a small amount of money like sixpence.

At the sentencing hearing, Lord Emslie sentenced Hutcheson to six years in prison for the sexual offences, with an additional six months for the physical cruelty charges. The judge emphasized that he considered Hutcheson’s advanced age, his poor health, and the fact that the offences occurred over 20 years ago. He also noted that charges of attempted murder, rape, and attempted rape had been withdrawn prior to the trial, but nonetheless highlighted the severity of the crimes for which Hutcheson was convicted.

Hutcheson, who resided on Caledonian Road in Brechin, denied a total of 13 charges, most of which related to incidents from the 1970s. However, after a trial at the High Court in Perth, he was found guilty of eight sexual offences involving two girls and a boy, all aged between eight and 16 at the time. He was also convicted of three counts of physical cruelty committed at addresses in Dundee and nearby Tealing.

The court heard disturbing details of Hutcheson’s brutal treatment of his young victims. One girl recounted how she was suspended by her thumbs and left hanging on a door frame until she confessed to a minor misdeed. She described how the pain was excruciating, with her thumbs tightening painfully when she relaxed. Another victim, now 40, described how Hutcheson repeatedly struck her with a heavy, buckled miner’s belt, leaving welts across her body. A different woman, also in her 40s, testified that Hutcheson’s abuse had devastated her life, claiming she felt as if she had been raped 500 times.

One particularly distressing account involved a young girl who was forced to steal a tin of fruit because she was starving, having been deprived of food for an entire day. These accounts paint a grim picture of Hutcheson’s cruelty and the lasting trauma inflicted upon his victims.

Following his conviction, Hutcheson was ordered to register as a sex offender, ensuring that he remains under supervision and scrutiny for the foreseeable future. The case has brought to light the extent of his abuse and the importance of justice for those who suffered at his hands, finally holding him accountable for his actions after many years of evading justice.