December 2015

Child rapist back in prison after breaking SOPO

ws

A pensioner paedophile who repeatedly raped a young girl was back behind bars last night after he was caught loitering in a city park.

William Stables was handed a 10-year sentence in January 2002 after he admitted subjecting the young child to rape and abuse over a four-year period. He was released on licence in September 2008.

Yesterday, the 76-year-old appeared back in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court after he admitted breaching the terms of his order which allows him to remain at liberty with minimal risk to the public.

As part of a sexual offences prevention order, Stables is subject to a number of restrictions.

But between September 2, 2013 and November 27 last year the pensioner was using a Bank of Scotland account which he had not shared the details of with the police.

And he was caught loitering in Aberdeen’s Westburn Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon when it was full of children.

The court heard that Stables was under a condition which forbid him from being in the area or loitering near places he may encounter children – including schools, parks and leisure centres.

Representing Stables, who has now broken his order on four occasions, solicitor John McLeod said his client was honest with police when he was approached on June 14 this year.

He said he immediately told the officers he was a sex offender and said he was only in the park to “kill time” while he waited for his pastor.

Mr McLeod said that Stables, a prisoner at HMP Grampian, did not believe he was in breach of his order as he had not tried to approach the children.

The court heard the police trusted what he had said, and only realised he had breached his conditions when they returned to the office without him and checked.

Mr McLeod said Stables, who had been staying in the Balnagask area of Torry, would be struggling to maintain the upkeep of his house and car if a lengthy prison sentence were imposed.

However Sheriff Graham Buchanan said it was a serious matter given his three previous breaches and sentenced him to 15 months behind bars.

The sentence was backdated to July when he was first remanded in custody

July 2010

Sheriff sends paedophile pensioner back to prison

A PAEDOPHILE jailed for a series of sex attacks on a young girl has been locked up again for breaching a court order.

Pensioner William Stables was sent to prison in 2002 after subjecting the girl to four years of rape and abuse.

The 70-year-old was released in 2008 but has now been sentenced to six months behind bars for breaking a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

Stables was arrested after police found he had bought, or had been using, a car — a move which was forbidden under the court order.

Officers discovered both a red Renault Clio and red Ford Focus parked outside his sheltered housing complex in Seaton.

He admitted the offence after appearing in private at the city’s sheriff court and was remanded in custody to await sentence.

Defence agent Lorna Zanre said Stables, listed in court papers as a prisoner in Aberdeen, had forgotten he had to inform Grampian Police bosses if he wanted to buy or use a car.

She said: ‘He is 70 years old. That is no excuse but he had forgotten to inform the police constable. In his eyes he had told all the relevant authorities.’

Stables admitted three charges of sexual abuse and rape at the High Court in Aberdeen in January 2002 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

At the time, defence advocate Celia Sanderson said there was no explanation for the offences, which began at Stables’ home in Aberdeen.

The offences also happened in a camper van parked at Fordoun and Inverbervie and almost every weekend when the child visited his home.

He carried out lewd, libidinous and indecent behaviour towards the schoolgirl, raped her and had unlawful sex with her over a period of time which spanned from dates in 1997 to a date in 2001.

Sentencing Stables eight years ago, Lord Bonomy said his actions against a vulnerable child had been ‘disgusting and vile’. Sheriff Colin Harris yesterday said the seriousness of the initial charges meant there was no alternative to custody for breaching the order.

Febuary 2002

SO VILE AND DISGUSTING; Old pervert who raped girl, 10, every weekend for four years

A CHILD rapist was jailed for 10 years yesterday for subjecting a little girl to a reign of unthinkable terror. 

Paedophile William Stables raped his 10-year-old victim nearly every weekend for four years. 

He was only caught when the girl – now aged 15 – told her sister in May last year. 

A judge told 62-year-old Stables yesterday his actions against the vulnerable girl were “vile and disgusting”. 

The pervert, who wears a wig, had been a trusted friend of the girl’s family. 

Last night, police admitted they had clues there may be other victims. 

Stables, of Aberdeen, had previously taken other youngsters on trips to local parks.

He has known the girl, one of eight children, for 10 years. 

Defence advocate Celia Sanderson told the High Court in Glasgow yesterday there was no explanation for the offences. 

Stables remained emotionless throughout his court appearance. 

Advocate Depute Stephen Woolman told Lord Bonomy: “In about January 1997, the girl began staying over at the accused’s house and it became a regular occurrence for her to stay from Friday night to Sunday night.” 

Acts of indecency against her developed into relentless rape attacks at his home in Willowbank Road, Aberdeen, and in a camper van in Aberdeenshire. 

Mr Woolman said the rapes were “happening many times and almost every weekend”. 

Stables admitted three sex charges detailing serious sexual abuse and rape from January 1997 to March 2001. 

Not guilty pleas to four other abuse charges towards her and another young girl were accepted by the Crown. 

The court heard that when the girl eventually told her sister about Stables, 

medical examinations found evidence of old injuries consistent with rape. 

Lord Bonomy put Stables on the sex offenders’ register when he admitted the offences at the High Court in Aberdeen