Police investigate Blackfriars Street 'paedophile ring' ... Did jailed child rapist David Scott run a network of abusers? ... Eight-year-old girl was 'sold' by the ex-soldier to five other men in flat near Edinburgh's Royal Mile ... Victims urge detectives to trace the gang and bring them to justice

A FORMER soldier jailed for sexually abusing six girls is being investigated over claims he operated a paedophile ring in the centre of Edinburgh.

David Scott, 60, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for a reign of terror spanning 45 years. But one victim has told police that in 2010 Scott took her to a flat in Blackfriars Street where five other men also abused her.

The girl, who was aged eight at the time, says she saw the men give Scott envelopes containing cash in the dingy flat just off the Royal Mile.

The teenager's explosive claims of a paedophile ring are being investigated by Police Scotland detectives.

A relative of the girl, who cannot be named, said: “We know that Scott is an absolute monster but I am certain these five men also abused her and they must be identified and brought to justice.

“I will do everything I can to find out who these men are. It is likely they are still out there which means that other children could be at risk.”

Scott began abusing children in 1970 but was not convicted until May this year.

After admitting 10 charges at the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lady Stacey told him: "You moved through generations of girls. You created a culture of fear which allowed your abuse to carry on.”

Victim Laura Lunn last week waived her anonymity to reveal that she had reported Scott to police in 1997 after suffering three years of abuse, which started when she was aged seven.

Police claimed that Scott was not prosecuted at the time due to a lack of corroboration.

But Laura, 30, says they failed to investigate property by not speaking to at least three other girls who had already been raped and abused.

They were only approached 20 years later in 2017 after two new victims came forward.

It is one of the two most recent victims who told police about Scott taking her to the Blackfriars Street flat.

In an interview with BBC Scotland, Laura said: “I can’t believe he got away with it for as long as he did and I do believe that the only reason he did was because the police didn’t do their job.

“If they’d they done their job properly, at least two of the six victims would never have been abused.

“There was just too much. There’s so much evidence now when you look at it that you think how, what happened there 21 years ago?”

One of Scott’s two most recent victims provided a detailed statement 18 months ago claiming that he allegedly sold her to other paedophiles.

She said that he took her to the flat on numerous occasions where five men, who she has described to police, raped her.

She saw the men hand Scott envelopes. Scott would then take the girl for a McDonald’s meal or shopping at the St James Centre.

The girl’s relative said: “Afterwards, he took her to the shops and would see him taking money out of the envelopes to buy her something such as a handbag or a hat.”

Last week the girl’s family identified what may be the address where Scott allegedly took her.

They also learned that a Scott associate who is due to stand trial for alleged child abuse matches the description of one of the men.

The relative took a video of the flat’s communal entrance and front door which she confirmed to be the same address where the abuse took place.

Detectives are now due to take an additional statement from the girl this week.

The relative said: “She had already described this flat in great detail when she gave her first statement about Scott to the police 18 months ago. There is no doubt in my mind this is the flat.

“When she saw the video, she confirmed it in two seconds. We were relieved for her because after all this time, it was such a big breakthrough.

“This particular associate of Scott is distinctive and fits the description of one of the men in the flat which I am sure will be of interest to the police.

"She wants to get on with her life but there are so many unanswered questions about how Scott was able to get away with it for so long."

Last night Laura — who believes there are other victims who she has urged to come forward — said: “I am not at all surprised at this. For years I have been saying that Scott was involved with other paedophiles.”

Despite criticism of police action in 1997, the relative is confident that detectives are now determined to investigate thoroughly.

The relative sad: “Had Laura been taken seriously all those years ago then it may have prevented others becoming victims.

“But whatever happened 21 years ago, I believe the police want to do the right thing now.

“During the recent investigation, one particular detective did backflips to help us. The police did a fantastic job in convicting Scott but they don’t always have the resources they need.

“The world has changed for the better in so many ways and there is so much more awareness about child protection issues."

However, there is growing anger at the length of Scott's prison sentence of '12 years'. Laura and the other victims were not told that he could be released on parole after serving just six years behind bars.

The victim's relative added: "The sentence is laughable. It is insulting. He raped children for almost half a century and could be back out in six — what kind of deterrent is that for other paedophiles?

“He could potentially serve just a year for each of his six known victims.

“He deserves to die in prison. I firmly believe that not only was he a serial child abuser but that he sold at least one of his victims to other paedophiles.

“Each and every one of these monsters must be found, held to account and join him behind bars.”

Scott served four years in the Army with the Royal Scots but left at the age of 20, allegedly for getting a 14 year old pregnant.

The Army say that data protection laws prevent them from providing information about Scott’s discharge and that their records may not even contain the reasons.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police in Edinburgh received a report of non-recent sexual assault, which took place at an address in Blackfriars Street sometime in 2010.

"Inquiries into this matter are continuing."

A version of this report was first published in the Daily Record on September 18, 2018

Comments

Cops probe 'Irish Mafia' fight nights ... Ex-lawyer's ring links to Dublin bloodbath gang ... Business 'twinned' with crime clan gym

A BOXING gym at the centre of a bloodbath gang war has a foothold in Scotland after hooking up with a former corporate lawyer. Sam Kynoch, 29, brags about his ties to the MGM base in Spain, which is run by Daniel Kinahan — heir to a £500million Irish crime empire. The ex-solicitor's MGM Scotland describes itself as the 'sister business' of the Marbella gym and he is gearing up to promote fights in Glasgow and Edinburgh. But police will monitor the shows after hitmen with AK-47s blasted a Kinahan gang enforcer to death nine days ago at a boxing weigh-in in Dublin. Labour justice spokesman Graeme Pearson MSP said: "Given the apparent association between these organisations, one would hope the authorities were focusing on any implications for Scotland." The former elite cop commander added: "I am sure the police will look very closely at this relationship." Boxing coach Kinahan, 37, was the suspected target of the Irish shooting.

Glasgow City Council's SNP leader Susan Aitken behind PR campaign to silence critical media report about suicide on River Clyde ... Council spinners cited fears of fuelling deaths ... But the politician had made a series of comments about suicides on the river just weeks earlier

One subject certain to focus the mind of a journalist it is that of suicide. Confusion surrounds what can and cannot be said. News organisations sometimes take the cautious position not to report a single word when someone has taken their own life but a self-imposed blackout is rarely necessary and serves no public interest. These guidelines from the Samaritans are helpful . Yes, it is valid to report suicides but care should be taken about doing so sensitively, avoiding sensationalism and over-simplification, and being too specific about ‘ hot spots ’ or the methods used. A welcome development has been the inclusion about how people can get help. However, one recent experience raised a new and unexpected concern – that of PR people and their political masters exploiting the media’s responsibility to be mindful and responsible. While producing this story about suicide for STV News , I conducted an on-camera interview with Glasgow taxi driver Stef Shaw, aka The Glasgow Cabb

Meet Alex Salmond's expensive legal team ... Crowdfunded cash will bankroll Court of Session battle against Nicola Sturgeon's government ... But spare a thought for the two women who made complaints of sexual misconduct against the former First Minister

MUCH has been written about how the #MeToo phenomenon which began in Holywood was confounded in Holyrood with Alex Salmond’s ugly but effective reframing of himself as the victim following allegations of sexual misconduct by two women. Plenty has also been said about the chutzpah of a wealthy former First Minister passing round an online begging bowl — stuffed with gusto by the blindly loyal — to pay his legal bills. But so far little is known about the crowdfunded team behind the impending judicial review of how the Scottish Government handled the complaints made against Salmond. Thanks to other people’s £100,007, he can afford a lot of expensive lawyers. Senior counsel Ronnie Clancy QC will lead in court. At his side will be advocate Duncan Hamilton , a former SNP MSP. Central to shaping Salmond’s case is the law firm Levy & McRae and its partner David McKie. Those who take an interest in the plots and personalities of Scotland’s legal profession will be fa

UNMASKED: Gerbil Getaway Driver ... third suspect revealed ... Victor Gallagher 'helped killers flee'

The Scottish Sun can today reveal the third suspected member of the Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll murder squad - who police believe was the assassins' getaway driver. Victor Gallagher, 39, is thought to have been at the wheel of the motor for the underworld execution outside an Asda supermarket. Gunman Billy Paterson - part of the notorious Lyons crime gang - was recently convicted of the shooting and caged for at least 22 years. But Gallagher has not faced any charges over the gangland slaying in Robroyston, Glasgow, in 2010. One senior police source said: " Everything pointed towards Gallagher being involved in some way but he has managed to stay under the radar. "It's believed that Gallagher did not shoot Carroll but it was claimed he was the driver of the VW Golf which took the two Lyons gang gunmen to and from Asda. " The murder was the culmination of a decade-long war between the Lyons and Daniel gangs. Paterson's friend Ross Monaghan, 33,

SEIZED: Scotland's biggest bankrupt Gregory King forced out of £5m home in Marbella's La Zagaleta ... Ex-blue chip lawyer loses prized mansion in enclave protected by armed guards and where Putin was a neighbour ... Fraud probe financier back in Glasgow 16 years after the unsolved doorstep murder of business partner Alex Blue ... Now trustee goes after SECOND Costa del Sol casa

SCOTLAND’S biggest bankrupt has been forced to abandon his £5million Spanish mansion which was seized to pay some of his debts. Gregory King, 49, has returned to Glasgow after his trustee Adrian Hyde took control of the stunning hilltop home overlooking Marbella. The house in the Costa del Sol’s exclusive La Zagaleta enclave has been sold for €5.7million (£5.11m). Hyde is now attempting to obtain a neighbouring mansion previously occupied by King’s bookmaker dad Hugh King, 77, and worth at least as much. Hyde, a partner with CVR Global , said: “ When we took possession of the house, Mr King appears to have left in a hurry as it was full of paperwork, clothing and other personal effects. It was almost as if they had simply left on holiday but never returned. “There were two cars in the driveway and one of his many Harley Davidson motorbikes in the garage. “The house was owned by a Spanish company with a Gibraltar parent company which in turn was owned by Mr Ki

Drug dealer busted with £300,000 of cocaine is behind a drone company which has been bankrolled with taxpayers' cash ... Kieran Hope's firm won funding from the Oil and Gas Technology Centre ... But critics say it is 'unacceptable' to keep details secret from the public

A DRUG dealer caught with £300,000 worth of cocaine in a police organised crime operation has been given taxpayers’ money to grow his drone business. Kieran Hope, 29, was handed a three-year prison sentence in 2014 and two years later launched Air Control Entech (ACE) which uses drones to conduct inspections in the oil and gas industry. A year later, he secured backing from The Oil & Gas Technology Centre (OGTC) which is funded by the Scottish and UK governments, academia and industry. There are no rules against convicted criminals from receiving public money but concerns have been raised over the OGTC’s refusal to disclose how much it gave to Hope’s firm. Hope ... boss of Air Control Entech In response to STV News , they said that all such deals are subject to ‘ non disclosure agreements ’ (NDA) which are typically used in legal agreements to protect commercially sensitive information. NDAs came in for criticism when high street retail tycoon Sir Phi

JUDGES FOR SALE: Special investigation into top lawmen being lured with big money jobs in Qatar and the UAE ... Lord McGhie has been with Abu Dhabi court for past two years while ALSO sitting in the Court of Session in Edinburgh ... Veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, cross-party MSPs and Dubai torture victim accuse them of legitimising despotic regimes ...

TOP judges are accused of selling the reputation of Scottish justice by working for Middle East countries with toxic human rights records. Two judges are on the payroll of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where domestic violence against women is legal and where regime critics are tortured and jailed without trial. The most senior is Lord Hope of Craighead — Scotland’s former top judge, a member of the House of Lords and ex-deputy president of the UK Supreme Court. Our investigation found that Lord McGhie has been registered to sit in the UAE for the past two years while he was also dispensing justice at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said: " It seems highly inappropriate for Scotland's previous top judge and former deputy president of the UK Supreme Court to work for the UAE given its poor human rights record. “He is giving legitimacy to the UAE's legal system which does not conform to international stan

ABOUT >>>>>

Russell Findlay is an investigations journalist reporting on law, politics, health, business and crime. He is also the author of non-fiction books. A fter 25 years with various newspapers he can now be found at STV News

TAXI BLAZE THREAT RAP OF COCAINE GANGSTER … ex-Royal Regiment of Scotland lance corporal accused of terrorising Glasgow Private Hire taxi firm staff … thug faces jail over firearms

A FORMER soldier who supplied British Army explosives to the Daniel crime clan was accused of threatening to torch the HQ of Scotland's biggest cab firm. Martyn Fitzsimmons, 37, allegedly terrorised staff at Glasgow Private Hire (GPH), which is owned by Paisley businessman Stevie Malcolm, 54. The former lance corporal in the Royal Regiment of Scotland is said to have made the threat in a call to the firm's office in the city's east end in March. Fitzsimmons faces a lengthy jail term as a senior member of a cocaine gang which police say was " at the top of the chain " in Scotland. He and eight other men pled guilty to a string of charges involving guns, drugs and violence and will be sentenced in January 2018. The ex-squaddie was accused of making the call to Malcolm's office along with the attempted murder of Lyons mob thug Ross Monaghan outside a primary school in Penilee, Glasgow, in January. But in a deal with prosecutors, his not

Police Scotland's former chief constable allegedly told to 'hire a Scot' as his deputy ... Phil Gormley warned there would be 'political problems' if he did not ... The order left him 'deeply troubled' ... But what did PIRC and the SPA do about the discrimination claim? ... SNP government ministers face questions about alleged meddling in policing

FORMER chief constable Phil Gormley was warned there could be ‘ political problems ’ if a Scottish candidate was not hired as one of his deputies. The former head of Police Scotland claims that the order came from Andrew Flanagan, then chairman of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), during a discussion about a vacant post for a deputy chief constable. During the meeting last September, Gormley was allegedly told ‘ there would be major presentational and political problems if either of the two internal (Scottish) candidates were passed over given how this would impact on the proportion of senior officers who were of Scottish national origin ’. In a document seen by The Times newspaper, Gormley said: “ He [Flanagan] indicated that Scottish Government were party to these concerns. As a senior officer of English national origin myself, this concerned me. The national origin of any candidate (from within the United Kingdom) should have no bearing on the selection process.

Russell Findlay - @RussellFindlay1

Search This Blog