THOMAS CAIRNS JAILED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN TELFORD AND MONKLANDS

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Thomas Cairns, a 63-year-old former soldier, was sentenced to more than four years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of 37 years. The crimes involved three young girls from the same family, with the abuse beginning when the first victim was only seven years old.

Thomas Cairns, who currently resides in Telford, England, carried out his abusive acts while serving in the military, with incidents taking place during his postings in Germany and Hong Kong. The first victim, a young girl, was subjected to Cairns’s vile behavior during visits to her family home in Monklands, where he forced her to perform sexual acts and watch pornography. These assaults persisted until she reached the age of 15, with some of the abuse occurring at an address in Millbrae Court, located in the Kirkwood area of Coatbridge.

Further disturbing details emerged regarding Cairns’s predatory behavior towards two other young girls. The second victim was targeted on two separate occasions—December 23, 2006, and December 31, 2007—at a residence on Rosebank Terrace in Bargeddie. It was during these incidents that Cairns attempted to touch her private parts, placing his hand inside her pyjamas. The third victim, only 10 years old at the time, was assaulted at the same address on December 23, 2008. Cairns committed another sexual attack against her two years later, further compounding the severity of his crimes.

Last week, Cairns appeared before Airdrie Sheriff Court to face sentencing after pleading guilty to four charges related to these offenses. During the court proceedings, his victims sat together in the front row of the public gallery, visibly distressed. Cairns, who was bald and wearing glasses, sat in the dock, showing little emotion. His legal representative, Brian Selby, told the court that Cairns had the support of his wife and family, who were present in the courtroom, with his wife and only son seated at the back of the gallery.

Mr. Selby emphasized Cairns’s remorse, stating, “He is totally ashamed of what has happened. What he wishes to do is take his punishment and come back into the community a better person.” Despite this, Sheriff John C Morris sentenced Cairns to four years and two months in prison. The sheriff described the crimes as a “horrific catalogue of abuse within the family circle” and noted that the sentence could have been longer had Cairns not pleaded guilty early in the process.

Additionally, Sheriff Morris ordered Cairns to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life, marking the lasting impact of his crimes. As Cairns was led away from the dock to begin his sentence, he cast a glance past his victims—at least one of whom was seen crying—toward his wife and son, who watched silently from the courtroom. The family involved in the case declined to comment when approached by The Advertiser, choosing to remain silent on the matter. The case has left a deep scar on the community, highlighting the devastating effects of abuse within families and the importance of justice for victims.