POLICE PROBE CAPITAL PAEDO RING
Victim claims beast Scott sold her to five other perverts
A GIRL who was sexually abused by ex-soldier David Scott has told police he sold her to five other paedophiles.
Detectives are investigating claims that the victim, who was eight at the time, was raped by the men in a dingy flat just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
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 in May for a reign of terror spanning 45 years.
One of his victims has told police Scott took her to a flat just off the capital’s Royal Mile in 2010, where five other men also abused her.
The girl, who was eight at the time, said she saw the men in the dingy flat in Blackfriars Street give Scott envelopes containing cash.
Her explosive claims of a paedophile ring are being investigated by Police Scotland detectives.
A relative of the girl, who is now a teenager and cannot be named, said: “We know that Scott is an absolute monster but 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.”
Scott started abusing children in 1970 but was not convicted until earlier this year.
After he admitted 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.”
One of Scott’s victims, Laura Lunn, last week waived her right to anonymity to reveal that she had reported him to police in 1997 after suffering three years of abuse.
Police said the beast wasn’t prosecuted at the time due to a lack of corroboration.
But Laura, now 30, said they failed to investigate properly by not speaking to other girls who had already been raped and abused by the monster.
They were only approached last year – 20 years later – after two new victims came forward.
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 done their job properly, at least two of the six victims would never have been abused.
“There’s so much evidence now, when you look at it, you think, ‘What happened there 21 years ago?’”
One of Scott’s most recent victims provided a detailed statement 18 months ago claiming that he sold her to other paedophiles.
She said he took her to the Edinburgh flat on numerous occasions where five men, who she has described to police, raped her.
The girl added that she saw the men hand Scott envelopes – and that he would take her for a McDonald’s or shopping at the nearby St James Centre afterwards.
The girl’s relative said: “He took her to the shops and she 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 of the flat. The relative took a video of the flat’s communal entrance and front door, which the girl confirmed to be the same address where the alleged abuse took place. Detectives are 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.” Last night, Laura – who has urged any other victims to come forward – said: “I’m not at all surprised at this.
“For years, I have been saying that Scott was involved with other paedophiles.”
Despite criticism of the police’s actions in 1997, the girl’s relative is confident that detectives are now determined to investigate thoroughly. He said: “Had Laura been taken seriously, then it may have prevented others becoming victims. “But during the investigation, one particular officer did backflips to help us. The police did a fantastic job in convicting Scott but they don’t always have the resources they need.
“Whatever happened 21 years ago, I believe the police want to do the right thing now.
“The world has changed for the better in so many ways and there is so much more awareness about child protection issues.”
He does, however, believe that the 12-year sentence handed to Scott – who will be able to apply for parole after just six years – is not enough.
The relative said: “The sentence given to Scott is laughable.
“He raped children for almost half a century and could be out in six years – 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 victim 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 with the Royal Scots but left aged 20, allegedly for getting a 14-year-old pregnant.
The Army said data protection laws prevent them from providing information about Scott’s discharge and that their records may not even contain the reasons.
A police 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.”