Former councillor jailed for sexual abuse of girls

A former Shetland councillor convicted of the sexual abuse of two girls and a woman has been jailed for 18 months.

Robert Henderson ,74, a business man and former independent councillor, was convicted of historic sexual abuse on the Shetland island of Yell between 1974 and 1993.

His defence counsel David Moggach said: “T his has been for a man of his standing a quite spectacular fall from grace, especially in a small community where everyone knows each other.”

Yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow judge Lord Kinclaven told Henderson: “Your victims said they felt‘ sick, embarrassed, shocked and annoyed.’”

The judge said that the most serious charge of rape, which brought the trial into the High Court in Aberdeen, had been found not proven against Henderson, but said the remaining charges were serious and added: “I’ve given it very careful consideration and I’m satisfied that there is no alternative to a custodial sentence.

“The offences cover a significant period of time and the court requires to mark the seriousness of your off ending.”

Henderson, from Yell, Shetland, was placed on the sex offenders register.

The jury in the trial found the rape charge not proven.