WILLIAM SPEIRS OF LIVINGSTON DIES IN EDINBURGH PRISON AFTER HISTORIC SEX ABUSE CONVICTION

In a tragic turn of events, William Speirs, a man from Livingston who was convicted of heinous sexual offenses committed over four decades ago, has died while in custody at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The 80-year-old, who had been sentenced last July, passed away on Saturday, marking the end of a long and painful chapter for his victims and the justice system alike.

Speirs was brought to trial at Livingston Sheriff Court in July 2012, where he faced charges related to the sexual abuse of four children. The court heard harrowing details of his crimes, which reportedly began when the victims were as young as three years old. The trial revealed that Speirs had subjected his victims to a series of disturbing and degrading acts, including forcing them to participate in sickening games, which often resulted in physical beatings and sexual molestation.

The court proceedings painted a picture of a man who continued his abuse over many years, with the victims, now aged between 45 and 52, revealing that they had kept their dark secret for more than 40 years before finally coming forward to the police in 2009. Their testimonies detailed how Speirs had continued to assault them throughout their childhood, subjecting them to vicious attacks and degrading sexual acts when they refused to comply.

William Speirs, a resident of Craigshill, Livingston, was charged with multiple counts of violent and indecent acts, including two charges of lewd and libidinous behavior and four counts of assault. The offenses took place both at his former residence and at the Craigshill Social Club, where he was known to be a committee member. The jury at Livingston Sheriff Court found him guilty of all six charges after a lengthy trial.

Following his conviction, Sheriff Martin Edington sentenced Speirs to two and a half years in prison. The sheriff emphasized the severity of the crimes, stating, “You had no interest in children other than to abuse them. You’re right to expect a custodial sentence. A custodial sentence would reflect society’s condemnation of such behaviour.” The sheriff also noted that Speirs had evaded justice for 30 to 40 years, consistently denying his guilt and showing no remorse for his actions. He added, “The consequences for the children may properly be described as devastating, but perhaps your very belated conviction will afford them some comfort.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Speirs was placed on license for ten years as a registered sex offender. His death in custody has brought an end to a case that has left a lasting impact on the victims and the community. Outside the court, representatives for the victims expressed their relief and satisfaction with the verdict, describing the sentence as “fair.” They stated, “We didn’t care how long he got as long as he was found guilty. It was justice. This has given us a sense of closure, that’s the most important thing. We’re just happy it’s all over with.”