Paedophile is jailed for 15 years over 'sadistic' abuse of 3 children

A PAEDOPHILE who sexually assaulted two boys and a girl has been jailed for 15 years for what a judge branded "sadistic sexual terrorism".

Colin Whitelaw was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of sexually abusing the three children more than 35 years ago.

The accountant was caught when one of his victims, now 49, told a psychiatrist - prior to being sentenced for murder - that he had been abused.

Judge Bill Dunlop told 58-year-old Whitelaw - who maintains he is the victim of a "conspiracy" - that the offences were "sick and grotesque".

He added: "These were children - you subjected them to sadistic sexual terrorism. You violated their trust and their bodies."

As well as the jail-term, Judge Dunlop ordered Whitelaw to be supervised for five years after his release.

Whitelaw, of Llanelli, South Wales, looked ashen-faced as he was led to the cells.

The trial heard how all three youngsters were sexually abused at various locations in Midlothian in the 1960s and 1970s.

The first victim - now aged 49 - told the jury how he was attacked "numerous times" by Whitelaw.

The man said he was once stripped and had a polythene bag put over his head before being assaulted.

He added: "I was told that I would be beaten if I told anyone what had happened."

He also recalled how on one occasion he had to set his dog on Whitlaw to get him away.

The abuse began when he was ten and finally stopped when the victim threw a bottle of bleach at Whitelaw years later.

The man only revealed his ordeal to a psychiatrist about three years ago.

The court heard how he has been left mentally scarred by Whitelaw and has tried to take his own life.

Whitelaw's second victim - now 47 - told the jury that he was so tormented he was prescribed valium aged 11.

Whitelaw placed a belt around his neck, forced him to his knees and put a bag over his head.

He was then sexually assaulted and burned with a lit cigarette while his hands were tied behind his back.

Whitelaw's third victim - who is now aged 50 - told how she tore clumps of her hair out and flushed it down the toilet as a result of her ordeal that lasted for nine years from five to 14.

During his attacks, Whitelaw held her down and placed a pillow over her face before assaulting her.

All three victims told prosecutor Joanna Cherry QC of how Whitelaw forced them to carry out appalling sex acts.

Former soldier Whitelaw - who married his gay partner of 23 years in a civil partnership last year - claimed during the trial the trio had concocted a "pack of evil lies".

His QC, Donald Findlay, said: "He maintains he has been the victim of a horrendous miscarriage of justice and a conspiracy.

"It is not beyond possibility Mr Whitelaw may die in prison."