‘Depraved’ air cadets leader jailed for sexual abuse of teenage boys

A FORMER air cadet leader was branded ‘abhorrent and depraved’ yesterday as he was jailed for sexually abusing young boys.

Ronald Hardman plied youngsters with drink and showed them pornographic magazines before abusing them over a 13-year period.

The 73-year-old selected his victims when they were being fitted out for their uniforms at 327 Squadron of the Air Training Corps (ATC) in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.

He attacked the boys when they were aged between 13 and 17 in the officers’ mess and when they were alone after making them ‘feel special’.

Jailing him for five years yesterday, Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane said: ‘These offences took place over an extended period of time when you were in charge of these young men’s activities in the ATC.

‘They had their whole lives ahead of them and I could tell from the evidence they gave that you have destroyed that.

‘I suspect nothing I do can repay those young men for the damage you caused them.’

The sheriff described Hardman’s conduct as ‘abhorrent and depraved’ and a ‘flagrant breach of trust’.

Noting he still denied the offences and had no remorse, Sheriff McFarlane added: ‘I sentence you to a period of five years in prison. That’s the maximum I can do.’

Two of the victims, now in their 40s, broke down as they gave evidence, describing the incidents and the effect the former ATC senior warrant officer had on their lives.

One former cadet said he was 14 when Hardman, of Kilmarnock, let him sit on his lap to drive his car and groped him while he tried to reach the pedals.

Hardman, who was an ATC instructor before leaving in 1998, also gave the boy whisky

‘Flagrant breach of trust’

and showed him pornographic magazines.

He took another victim and his friend swimming then drove them out to the countryside, where they sat in their underwear and Hardman abused a boy.

Hardman, a heating engineer, had denied two charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour and two of indecent assault but a jury found him guilty of the offences.

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Detective Inspector Stephen McCulloch said: ‘I would like to commend the three victims for their bravery in coming forward and reporting their experiences to the police. Their courage through this entire process was pivotal.’