WILLIAM BUCHAN FROM LOCHORE AND PERTH SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN SCOTLAND

In a case that has spanned decades and finally reached its conclusion, William Buchan, an 80-year-old man from Lochore and Perth, was convicted of serious sexual offenses committed against two young girls. The incidents, which took place between 1973 and 1980, involved the abuse of one girl starting from the age of six and also included molestation of her 11-year-old sister. The court heard that Buchan, a retired baker residing on Marmion Road in Lochore, Fife, had lured the children by promising to take them to see the Disney film Bambi, a classic that many children cherish. Instead of fulfilling this promise, he subjected them to indecent acts in his home and in the streets of a Perth housing estate.

During the three-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, the jury was presented with disturbing evidence. The younger sister, now aged 31, recounted her experience of going to Buchan’s house in Perth, expecting a trip to the cinema. Instead, he took her into a bedroom, pulled down her clothes, and engaged in simulated sexual acts on her. She described her feelings as confusion and fear, stating, “I didn’t know what to think, I was just a kid.” After the assault, Buchan gave her money and told her to go to the movies, further complicating her sense of betrayal.

The older sister, now 35 and working as a home help, also testified that Buchan had made her perform an indecent act during an outing to a park in Perth. She revealed that he had also simulated sex with her, adding to the trauma inflicted upon both sisters. The court was told that Buchan would often drive around Perth’s streets, seeking out children to target, and would pretend to take them to visit his unwell common-law wife, only to carry out his abusive acts instead. To conceal his actions, he would often give the girls sweets and money, further manipulating them.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, the victims kept silent for nearly 20 years. It was only in April of the previous year that they decided to report the abuse to the police. One of the women, overwhelmed by fear, admitted that the birth of her child had given her the courage to come forward and seek justice. During the trial, Buchan denied all allegations, claiming that the women were lying. He also argued that his own experiences during the Second World War had diminished his sexual urges, asserting that he was medically incapable of committing the acts he was accused of.

Judge Robin McEwan QC, presiding over the case, rejected the defense’s plea for leniency and instead sentenced Buchan to three-and-a-half years in prison. The judge emphasized that the severity of Buchan’s “gross behaviour” towards children warranted a custodial sentence. While acknowledging Buchan’s advanced age and health issues, the judge stated that justice required a firm response, especially given the long history of the offenses. He explained, “It is, however, the case that this happened a very long time ago and that you are now a very old man not in the best of health. I think that justice will be served by a sentence of 42 months imprisonment.”

Following the sentencing, the two victims expressed their relief and emotional release, hugging each other as they processed the verdict. The case drew parallels to other notable instances in Scotland, such as the case of James Kiers, an 89-year-old retired miner who was jailed in 1997 for sexual abuse, making him the country’s oldest prisoner at the time. William Buchan’s conviction and sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the long-lasting impact of childhood abuse and the importance of justice, regardless of the passage of time.