Ex chairman of miners’ welfare raped teen

Peter Watson admitted attack on girl 39 years ago

A former chairman of Cowie Miners’ Welfare is behind bars after admitting raping a woman on her 18th birthday 39 years ago.

Peter Watson (69) also pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two other girls more than 20 years ago. The offences took place in Cowie.

Prosecutor Lynsey MacDonald said: “The rape took place in 1978 when the accused was 30.

“The complainer went out with friends to celebrate her birthday. She ended up back at the accused’s house and fell asleep fully dressed on the couch in the living room.

“During the night the accused came into the room and removed her trousers and underwear. She woke up disorientated and confused. “

The court heard that she told Watson to get off her but he continued raping her for five to ten minutes before stopping.

Ms MacDonald said: “The woman had never previously had sexual intercourse with anyone. She did not tell anyone what had happened.”

Years later by chance she met another of his victims at a wedding who told of how Watson, formerly of Cowie but now of Alloa, had abused her.

After the meeting the other woman, who is now 49, went to the police.

She told officers that she had been indecently assaulted by Watson on one occasion when he was baby sitting her.

The woman was aged five or six in 1982 and Watson got into bed with her and began touching her.

This only stopped when he heard other adults returning to the house and got up and said: “I’m in the wrong bedroom.”

She said that whenever she met him after this incident he would give her sweets and money.

Another victim, now aged 43, also came forward to say Watson had indecently assaulted her when she was aged between nine and 14 when he was looking after her.

Ms MacDonald said: “He would go into her bedroom dressed only in boxer shorts. He would tell her to shush and then touch her genitals.”

On one occasion she thought he was going to have sex with her and screamed “No”.

Watson, she said, looked shocked and got up and left the room. She was upset and crying.

On Friday (September 1) at the High Court in Glasgow, Watson, a first offender, admitted the sexual abuse offences which were committed between 1982 and 1992.

The rape was committed in 1978. It’s believed Watson served on the Miners’ Welfare Committee for a number of years as chairman before the current committee took over.

It’s understood that he moved to the Alloa area in the last year.

Judge Lady Rae placed Watson on the sex offenders’ register and deferred sentence for background reports until September 28.

She remanded Watson in custody and told him: “These are obviously very serious charges.”

Defence counsel Lorraine Glancy will give her plea in mitigation when Watson returns to court for sentence.