January 2014
Pervert who abused two girls jailed for six years
A Haddington pensioner was jailed for six years today after subjecting two girls to a catalogue of depraved abuse which began 40 years ago.
A judge told Robert Whitefield: “You robbed these children of their innocence for your own sexual gratification.”
Whitefield (75) began targeting his first victim more than four decades ago and went on to rape her.
The second victim was later subjected to painful abuse that left her bleeding and crying.
Lord Doherty told Whitefield that what he had done to the sex abuse victims was “utterly depraved”.
He said: “It has had profound effects on each of them.”
The judge said that because of the seriousness of the crimes he would be failing in his public duty if he failed to impose a substantial custodial sentence.
But he said he could take into account Whitefield’s age, health and that the last of the offending had occurred nearly 20 years ago.
He told him he would have faced an eight-year prison term but for his guilty pleas.
Whitefield, of Market Court earlier admitted four charges of rape, indecent assault and indecency in Musselburgh.
The pensioner, whose previous convictions include indecent exposure, abused one child between 1972 and 1979 and the second girl between 1989 and 1994.
