Abused former scouts 'cheated' out of justice

TWO former Scouts who accused their troop leader of sexually abusing them while they were children today said they had been "cheated out of their day in court" after his suicide.

Pensioner James Robertson was facing four charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices against youngsters when he killed himself.

One of the alleged victims, who is now in his mid-40s, said he was sexually abused in the late 1970s during both camping trips and visits with the former

Scoutmaster to Glencorse Army Barracks in Penicuik.

Another alleged victim told the Evening News he had been abused "at least 100 times" in Mr Robertson's car while parked on quiet roads on the outskirts of the Midlothian town.

Both men, whose identities are being protected by the Evening News, finally came forward to police over the alleged sex attacks, and prosecutors charged the grandfather-of-six last November.

But the 75-year-old committed suicide with an overdose of pills on 27 April. His widow, Valerie Robertson, said that the charges against him "certainly accelerated" his decision to take his own life.

The first of the alleged victims to contact police still lives in Penicuik with his wife and children. He said: "I came forward two years ago. I was suffering from anger and depression, and my wife knew something was wrong. James Robertson always told me to keep it secret and I did for 30 years, but it had a huge impact on my life. Eventually I couldn't keep it a secret any longer.

"I was abused on five occasions over 18 months when I was 14 and 15, both at Glencorse Barrack and on Scout camps. I knew what he was doing was wrong, but I felt I couldn't stop him. I didn't know who to tell. He would take me to the barracks to play squash. The army gave him access there because that's where the Scouts went to do abseiling and shooting."

The alleged victim, who said he suffered sexual abuse between 1978 and 1980 while a member of the Penicuik Scout troop, added that he learned of Mr Robertson's suicide when he was contacted by the procurator fiscal's office. He said: "I was gutted when I heard because I wanted some kind of justice. I wanted to go to court and have my say in front of him. Now I'll never have that opportunity."

"I would sometimes bump into him in Penicuik when we were with our wives, and my stomach would always turn when we spoke."

His second alleged victim, who has since moved away from the Midlothian area, said he was sexually abused from the age of 12 to 16 by Mr Robertson between 1975 and 1979.

Now in his late 40s and married with children, he said: "I had difficult family circumstances at the time and he exploited my vulnerability to carry out the abuse.

"It would mainly happen on Monday and Thursday nights after the Scout meetings. He would drive me out to the West Linton road in his car. I've tried to recount for the police how many times it happened. It was at least 100 times, and was probably between 100 and 200.

"I finally went to the police last year because one of my children was around the same age as when this happened to me.

"I feel devastated and cheated that I won't get my day in court now. All I wanted him to do was apologise and admit what he did.

"It's had a massive effect on my life. I became very withdrawn and had emotional problems."

The two alleged victims, who knew each other as youngsters, met online again through Facebook and are now providing each other with support as they struggle to come to terms with events.

Mr Robertson, a father-of-two from Belwood Road in Penicuik, worked as a sales manager for a whisky manufacturing company before his retirement. His death certificate listed the cause of death as "multiple organ failure" and "multiple drug toxicity".