Man who disguised sexual abuse of young girl as a game jailed for seven years

A man who perpetrated “gross sexual abuse” against a young girl in the guise of a game has been jailed for seven years.

The girl was one of three children preyed upon by Alexander Williamson during crimes that were committed over a 24-year period between 1994 and 2018.

Wlliamson began targeting the girl when she was aged five.

She saw pornography and was blindfolded during the abuse. Williamson also exposed himself and carried out sex acts.

Williamson, 76, formerly of Craigmillar, Edinburgh, earlier denied the abuse of the children during a trial but was found guilty of six offences of indecent assault, sexual assault and indecent conduct.

A judge told him: “The jury convicted you of a series of serious sexual offences.”

Judge John Morris KC said one of those was a particularly serious charge “involving gross sexual abuse of a child disguised as a game”.

The abuse took place from September 2002 and occured at an address in Edinburgh and in car journeys.

Gallagher began his abuse of children in 1994 when he repeatedly indecently assaulted another girl from the age of 13.

A third victim was aged just four in 2002 when he began targeting her for sexual abuse, including exposing himself.

The court heard that Williamson continues to deny any wrongdoing, but was aware that a jail sentence was inevitable following the outcome of the earlier trial.

The court was told that Williamson was always in employment until he suffered a second stroke in 2018 and had helped care for his wife.

The judge told him that he took into account his age and failing health but he added he could not ignore the inevitable damage caused to his victims.

Williamson was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and non harassment orders were made prohibiting him contacting victims for an indefinite period.