Ronald McMillan: Ex-caretaker jailed for sexually abusing children as young as six in West Lothian
Ronald McMillan, who worked as a community centre caretaker, used his job and links in the community to abuse boys, prosecutors said. His offending happened during the 1970s and 1990s and continued until 2002 - and escalated over time.
Monday 13 November 2023 16:59, UK
A former caretaker has been jailed for 10 years for sexually abusing children.
Ronald McMillan, who worked as a community centre caretaker, used his job and links in West Lothian to abuse boys, prosecutors said.
The abuse was committed during the 1970s and 1990s and continued until 2002 - with McMillan's offending escalating over time with the use of force.
The youngest victim was just six years old.
During a trial at Livingston High Court, prosecutors proved McMillan abused boys in similar ways and terrified them with threats of violence if they told anyone.
A jury heard McMillan's victims were left traumatised and have experienced "long-lasting and serious consequences", according to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
McMillan, who turns 80 this month, was found guilty last month and was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday.
He was also added to the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
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Katrina Parkes, Scotland's procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offending, said: "McMillan used his job and community links to target young boys at a place where they should have felt safe and manipulated others to visit him at home where he abused them.
"Prosecutors demonstrated evidence that he is guilty of an increasingly serious catalogue of sexual abuse over a lengthy period of time.
"The victims in this case have bravely told the court what happened to them as children.
"His offending affected many, who now live with the traumatic consequences of his actions.
"I would like to commend their bravery in coming forward - their strength has resulted in his conviction."
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Ms Parkes urged other victims of historical child abuse to come forward, saying prosecutors are "committed to justice for victims of child sexual abuse, no matter how long ago the offences occurred".
"I urge any victims of similar crime to have confidence that time is no barrier," she added.
"Please come forward, report it and seek support."