Cowdenbeath man accused of historical sex abuse against girls

A Fife man has gone on trial accused of raping two young girls in a catalogue of sex abuse going back to the early 1980s.

A woman told the High Court in Dunfermline she was repeatedly assaulted in play areas including a tree house, a field and an abandoned house, all in Cowdenbeath. It is alleged one of the victims was lifted from her bed, placed on a table and raped.

In the dock is William Walls, 47, of Primmer Place, Cowdenbeath, facing four charges, which he denies. The offences took place between 1981 and 1989, when the girl was aged between four and 12.

He allegedly raped the same girl on various occasions between 1984 and 1989.

Between 1987 and 1991 he is also alleged to have used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards a second girl, who was then aged between seven and 10 years.

He is further alleged to have carried the same girl from her bed, placed her on a table and raped her, on an occasion between 1989 and 1991.

The victim in the first two charges said the offences happened regularly, over years, but she was “too scared” to tell anybody. She gave a statement to police last year. She thought she was about six or seven when she was abused by Walls in a caravan, and also told the court about the last alleged assault.

“When he hurt me, I kicked him off and managed to climb a fence. He was shouting ‘I’m going to tell your dad’. I ran home. I was petrified after that when anyone came to the door. I thought it was him coming to tell my dad.”

She had not told her dad because he was an alcoholic and she feared it would lead to him drinking even more.

The trial before Lord Beckett continues.