Paedophile deemed ‘likely to reoffend’ gets four years off sentence
A man who subjected two girls to months of sexual abuse has had his jail sentenced slashed by four years.
William Aitken, 42, of Dunfermline, raped and sexually assaulted the girls from the ages of 13 and 14.
When he was jailed in April for 16 years at the High Court in Edinburgh, Police Scotland said the two vulnerable teenagers had suffered horrendous abuse.
Jurors heard how Aitken would give his victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, money and cigarettes before preying on them.
Law Lords reduced the sentence to 12 years on appeal.
Aitken’s victims suffered repeatedly at his hands, one over the course of two years and the other over 10 months.
The sentence imposed on Aitken, of Keir Hardie Terrace, included concurrent periods of five and 10 years for the two charges in relation to the younger girl.
He was also sentenced to five and six years concurrently for his offences against the other girl, but with these terms consecutive to the first two.
Aitken was considered likely to reoffend and trial judge Lady Wolffe said the initial sentence reflected the fact Aitken was a “calculating and predatory” individual.
Following Aitken’s appeal Lord Bracadale said Lady Wolffe had not taken sufficient account of the “significant and unexplained” delay in bringing Aitken to trial after he was charged in September 2010.
He also said: “We consider that in this case, in addition to the issue of delay, the cumulative effect of the consecutive sentences has produced an overall sentence which is excessive, particularly in the case of a first offender.”
Jailing Aitken, Lady Wolffe had told him he was guilty of “calculated and predatory sexual abuse for your own sexual gratification of two vulnerable girls in their early teens in respect of whom you were in a position of trust”.
She said: “Sexual crimes involving children are particularly odious.
“Such abuse is not acceptable in a modern society and it is the responsibility of the court to reflect that understanding.”
April 2015
A Dunfermline pervert who sexually abused two teenage girls over a four year period has been jailed for 16 years.
William Aitken (42), of Keir Hardie Terrace, was sentenced today for raping and sexually assaulting the youngsters, one between February 2008 and March 2012 and the other between September 2009 and June 2010.
The girls, who were aged 13 and 14 at the time the abuse started, cannot be named for legal reasons.
Passing sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Wolffe told Aitken, “The crimes of which you have been found guilty after trial are extremely serious ones.
“They all involved calculated and predatory sexual abuse for your own sexual gratification of two vulnerable girls in their early teens.
“Sexual crimes involving children are particularly odious.
“Such abuse is not acceptable in a modern society and it is the responsibility of the court to reflect that understanding.
“I am satisfied that in your case there is no appropriate alternative disposal to one of imprisonment.”
Aitken had denied the allegations but last month a jury convicted him of rape and sexual assault charges after a two week trial.
During proceedings the court heard how the beast, who has no previous convictions, targeted the girls at various locations in Fife.
Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports and defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin told the court that his client still did not accept responsibility for his actions.
He said that his client knew that a custodial sentence was inevitable.
Lady Wolffe also placed Aitken on the sex offenders register for life.
March 2015
A PERVERT who sexually abused two young girls over a four-year period is facing a lengthy prison sentence.
William Aitken (42) raped and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old female on various occasions between February 2008 and March 2012.
His victim cannot be identified for legal reasons.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Aitken also repeatedly sexually assaulted another girl between September 2009 and June 2010.
The court heard how the child, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, was aged 14 when Aitken started targeting her.
Police eventually learned of Aitken’s offending behaviour – officers arrested and took him into custody.
The story emerged this afternoon (Monday) when a jury convicted Aitken, of Keir Hardie Terrace, Dunfermline, of rape and sexual assault charges.
He had spent the past two weeks denying the allegations.
The court heard how the beast, who has no previous convictions, targeted the girls at various locations in Fife.
Following conviction, defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin told judge Lady Wolffe that his client knew that he would be sent to prison.
Mr Martin added, “He appreciates that custody is the inevitable disposal..”
Lady Wolffe placed Aitken on the Sex Offenders Register and deferred sentence for the court to obtain reports about his character.
He will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on 10th April.
