Top advocate abused me as a girl at lawyers’ party, claims woman
A WOMAN yesterday claimed that a Scots advocate sexually abused her as a child.
The 50-year-old told a jury she was groped in bed by John Watt who attended a party with other lawyers at the property in Edinburgh city centre.
The witness stated at the High Court in Glasgow that Watt, 72, complained about being cold or tired before putting his hand in her pyjama trousers.
Court papers state Watt used lewd, indecent and libidinous practices involving the woman between October 1978 and June 1983.
The charge states Watt climbed into bed and placed his hand inside her lower clothing before touching her inappropriately.
Watt is accused of raping another girl aged seven to 11 between September 1973 and August 1978 at an unknown address in the West End of Edinburgh.
He faces a charge of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices against the same girl at the same time and place.
He has lodged a special defence of incrimination for the rape charge and claims that deceased solicitor Richard Watt is responsible.
He is also accused of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices against a 12-year-old boy between September 1973 to August 1987 at a property in Leith.
Watt lastly faces a charge of indecent assault between October 1978 and June 1983 on another girl aged between nine and 14 at an city centre address. Watt, of Glasgow’s city centre, denies the five charges.
The woman told the court in evidence that she was aware of Watt being a member of the Faculty of Advocates. She stated that he attended social gatherings at the property in Edinburgh city centre with other guests such as advocate Lawrence Nisbet and now-deceased lawyer Bill FotherEdinburgh ingham. The woman claimed at one social gathering she went to bed and was asleep before being woken up by Watt at the bedroom door.
She said: ‘He appeared to be taking his shoes off as if he was going to get undressed or somepropriately. thing.’ Prosecutor Kath Harper asked what happened and the witness replied: ‘I think he said something about being cold or tired... and got into bed, my bed.
‘As I was lying there he put his hand down my pyjama bottoms, I was facing away from the door.’
It was then the woman told the jury that Watt touched her inapThe woman stated that he then left the room.
Miss Harper asked what was going through her mind.
The woman said: ‘I knew it wasn’t right but I have a lawyer, in bed. You think something is happening which is not right.’
The woman claimed that she later informed her parents and that she did not see Watt again in person after the alleged incident.
Donald Findlay, QC, defending, quizzed the witness about the time of the incident in which she claimed that there was light in the room.
Mr Findlay said: ‘If John came to your room at that time in the morning, he would have had a lot to drink?’ The witness replied: ‘Possibly.’ The trial continues.
‘Something which isn’t right’