BOYS ABUSED FOR YEARS BY EX-BB OFFICER
Predator is jailed over historic depraved attacks
An East Kilbride paedophile who preyed on young boys while he was a football team manager and Boys’ Brigade officer has been jailed for five years.
Predator William Cross, 68, admitted nine charges of abuse involving boys between the ages of seven and 13 in the 1980s and 1990s and a further charge of abusing one victim up to the age of 16.
He was snared as part of an independent inquiry into historic child sexual abuse in football.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard how Cross, of Fraser River Tower, The Murray, would ply the youngsters with home brew and “punish” them by smacking them repeatedly on their bare buttocks.
One of the victims developed mental health problems and took his own life on Christmas Day 2014 – before Cross faced justice. Another man went on to have drink and drug issues and was found dead days after giving police a statement.
Sheriff Marie Smart branded Cross “vile” and praised the bravery of victims. Cross was put on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.
A football team manager and Boys’ Brigade officer who abused young boys has been jailed for five years.
Sheriff Marie Smart branded 68-year-old William Cross “vile” and praised the bravery of victims who testified against him.
One of the victims developed mental health problems and took his own life on Christmas Day 2014 before Cross faced justice, Hamilton Sheriff Court was told.
Another went on to have drink and drug issues until he was found dead days after giving police a statement about the abuse.
Cross, of Fraser River Tower, The Murray, admitted nine charges of abuse involving boys aged seven to 13 in the 1980s and 1990s.
He admitted a further charge of continuing to abuse one of the victims up to the age of 16.
Some of the crimes happened when the serial offender was on probation. In 1985 he was convicted of 22 charges of indecent assault involving young boys.
Callum Forsyth, prosecuting, said Cross would ply youngsters with home brew and offer them money if he could take down their pants and trousers before smacking them repeatedly.
One BB member was molested by Cross during a party.
Cross was known for allowing boys to visit his then home in Netherton Road, Westwood. There would be a routine where he complained about the youngsters “carrying on” and tell them they had to be “punished”.
He initially denied any wrongdoing but offered guilty pleas after several of his victims had given evidence during trial.
His advocate Tim NivenSmith said Cross now recognised the impact of his behaviour on the victims and “prayed for forgiveness”.
Putting the pensioner on the sex offenders’ register for an indefinite period, Sheriff Marie Smart told him: “These offences display a gross abuse of trust.
“It’s to the great credit of these men that they had the courage to come forward to speak out about your vile behaviour.”
Sheriff Smart added that, despite it being unlikely to happen due to his old age and ailing health, she will recommend to Scottish Government ministers that Cross never be allowed to work with children again.
DCI Sarah Taylor, of Police Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “William Cross was a serial abuser who took advantage of his position of trust within various organisations to abuse children in his care.
“He came to our attention following reports made during our investigation into child abuse in football.
“I would like to pay tribute to the people who felt able to report their abuse to us.
“We understand how incredibly difficult it is to speak about abuse but without their bravery and the information they provided about the abuse they experienced, we would not be here today.
“We hope this five-year sentence gives them a sense of justice.
“I also hope that this will encourage anyone else who may have suffered abuse, or knows someone who may have been abused, to come forward and report to us.
“We will listen and we will take action, no matter when or where the abuse occurred.”
One of the victims was found dead days after giving police a statement about the abuse...