WILLIAM KING FROM FIFE FACES LONG JAIL SENTENCE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF SCHOOLGIRLS IN EDINBURGH AND INVERKEITHING
In a case that has shocked the community and brought to light disturbing allegations of child abuse, William King, a man from Fife, has been convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses involving young girls.The crimes took place over several years and spanned different locations, including Edinburgh and Inverkeithing, where the abuse was carried out in private residences.
William King, a father of two, was found guilty of engaging in sexual activities with a 12-year-old girl and coercing another underage girl into performing a sexual act on him.
Despite denying the charges throughout the trial, the jury convicted him on three counts of sexual assault.
However, he was acquitted of a further charge of rape, which was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case gained further prominence when one of the victims, Dana Fowley, chose to waive her right to anonymity and spoke publicly outside the High Court in Edinburgh.
She expressed her relief and satisfaction at the verdict, stating, “I am delighted.
I have been waiting 19 years for this.” Ms.
Fowley recounted her long history of abuse, revealing that she first reported the offending to police in 1997.
During her testimony, she detailed additional abuse she endured as a child, which involved not only William King but also his late father, Billy senior, along with other family members and accomplices.
She described her experiences as “more abuse days than normal days,” highlighting the extent of her suffering.
She explained that her stepfather, Billy King, began abusing her when she was approximately five years old.
Her account also included the involvement of her mother, who was later jailed for her part in the abuse, along with other individuals such as Caroline Dunsmore, who was sentenced to 12 years in 2007 at the age of 43, and John O’Flaherty, who received a 13-year sentence at age 50.
Morris ‘Mo’ Petch was also sentenced to life imprisonment that same year.
Ms.
Fowley described how William King Jr.
entered her life through his father and was aware of her young age.
She recounted that around the age of 12 and a half, after she “chummed” him to his house in the Granton area, he began kissing her.
She reflected on her perception at the time, saying, “I think by the time I got to 12 nothing shocked me in life,” and added, “This was just a normal day to me to be honest.” She detailed how King Jr.
would contact her to arrange meetings, often taking her to his house or out in his car.
Despite her young age, she noted that she was not screaming or bawling but acknowledged her youth, stating, “He would tell me he was leaving his wife for me.
He told me he loved me.
He gave me a ring.” Ms.
Fowley described the grooming process as “perfect grooming,” emphasizing the manipulative tactics used by King Jr.
to gain her trust.
She also recounted an incident where his wife called, and King Jr.
was out of breath, claiming he had to run up the road for cat food, illustrating the lies and cover stories used to hide his actions.
William King, residing at Diamond Grove, Dunfermline, was convicted of engaging in sexual acts with the first girl between August 1992 and June 1995 at various houses in Edinburgh and Inverkeithing.
He was also found guilty of indecency towards a second girl, whom he preyed on from the age of seven, from 1990 to 1994, at locations in Edinburgh and Inverkeithing.
Although he faced accusations of raping the second victim, he was acquitted of that specific charge.
During the sentencing hearing, defence counsel Ronnie Renucci acknowledged that a custodial sentence was inevitable but requested that King be allowed to remain on bail as a first-time offender until the final sentencing scheduled for next month.
However, the presiding judge, Lady Wolffe, made it clear that the gravity of the crimes warranted a custodial sentence.
She stated, “You have been found guilty of extremely serious matters and as your counsel has accepted a custodial sentence is inevitable.” Consequently, William King was remanded in custody and ordered to register as a sex offender, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the community from further harm.
