‘Monster’ rapist who preyed on 16 victims jailed

High Court in Edinburgh. David Robertson was jailed for 15 years and four months for his crimes

David Robertson, 56, told a social worker who prepared a background report on him: “I am a bit more of a monster than I thought I was.”

He preyed on 16 victims in a catalogue of sexual depravity spanning almost 40 years.

A judge praised the courage and determination shown by Robertson’s victims in bringing him to justice.

Robertson, formerly from Aberdeen, was earlier convicted of raping two women and a girl aged under seven.

His sex offending began in his home city in 1974 when he was aged 17 and continued until 2011.

A judge told the sex offender at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday that he would be sentenced to 15 years and four months imprisonment, and kept under supervision for a further ten years.

Lord Boyd of Duncansby told Robertson: “It is clear while at liberty you pose a substantial risk to the public.”

The judge said the 25 charges on which he had been found guilty involved 16 victims.

He went on: “Seven of the victims were girls under the age of 16, two were adult women with learning difficulties and one of your male victims also had learning difficulties.

“No-one who sat through the trial could fail to be moved by the accounts of abuse at your hands.”

Lord Boyd said he considered that Robertson had little or no insight or understanding of the effect of his crimes on his victims.

He said: “While you were prepared to make some admissions of guilt, you were determined to minimise and play down the extent of your offending.

“Those victims who reported their abuse at your hands and gave evidence have shown courage and determination in bringing you to justice.

“They are to be congratulated for coming forward.”

Robertson was earlier convicted of a total of 25 charges including indecent behaviour and assault and rape. He targeted two men during his campaign of abuse.

He preyed on victims at different addresses in Aberdeen and at a holiday village at Arbroath, a caravan park in Nairn and in Keith.

One victim wept as she recalled how she had been raped as a child by Robertson.

She told his trial he would give her ice cream to remain silent about the abuse.

Robertson, who formerly worked at the Lord Provost Henry E Rae community centre in Aberdeen, accepted during the trial that he had committed some of the offences but denied the rape charges.

He claimed he felt “disgusted” with himself and added: “I was glad I was caught.”

Following his conviction last year, police described him as “highly manipulative and controlling”.

Robertson had told a social worker he was “relieved” when he was detained by police.

He will be on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.

Speaking after sentencing, Liam Murphy, procurator-fiscal for the north of Scotland, said: “The actions of David Robertson devastated the lives of many, left permanent mental scars on his vulnerable victims and destroyed a number of families.

“Thanks to the incredible bravery of his victims in coming forward to report what happened to them, it has been possible for us to bring him to face the full force of the law for his despicable crimes.

“I would urge any victims of sexual crimes, even ones which occurred decades ago, to come forward and report them.

“They will be treated with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity by the police and our expert prosecutors around the country and in our national sexual crimes unit, and we will do all we can to deliver justice.”