The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Fife man jailed for ‘horrific’ sexual abuse and violence over 24 years
A man who sexually assaulted three children in a 24-year reign of terror has been jailed for 13-and-a-half years.
James Whitton Kerr also violently assaulted two women over the course of more than two decades at addresses in Fife.
Police described the 41-yearold’s crimes as horrific levels of sexual abuse and serious physical violence.
Detective Constable Ross French, from Fife’s public protection unit, said: “I hope this sends a clear message to others that there is no place for this type of behaviour.”
Kerr was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday.
He had previously admitted to serious sexual assaults against the children, aged between eight and 16, at various addresses in Dunfermline, between 1991 and 2015.
He also admitted carrying out the assaults on the two women between 1998 and 2019.
Detectives launched an investigation after a woman came forward to report the non-recent sexual abuse Kerr subjected her to.
He was arrested and charged on June 6 last year.
DC French said: “I would once again like to thank the victims in this case who assisted our officers with this investigation.
“It is not easy reliving these types of incidents.
“I hope that his conviction and sentence will serve to bring some form of closure to his victims...”
He added: “James Kerr subjected the children involved in this case to horrific levels of sexual abuse and subjected two women to serious physical violence.”
Mr French urged anyone who has been, or is being, subjected to any form of abuse of harm to report it to police.
“We treat all reports of sexual crime seriously, no matter when the offence happened, with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity and we will thoroughly investigate in order to bring perpetrators of such crimes to justice.
“With the aid of partner agencies there is also help available to assist victims to break free from these types of harmful situations,” continued the detectice constable.
“If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse please do seek the courage to report it.”