Victims' anger at 'insulting' sentences for abusive foster carer and rapist son

People who were abused by a foster carer and her son have described the sentences handed to them as "utterly insulting".

Jennifer Robertson, 79, abused children as young as 10 months old, physically assaulted young girls and forced food down their throats at a property in Perthshire between 1980 and 1995.

Her son Steven Robertson, 52, sexually abused a number of the girls between 1986 and 1995, sometimes acting with his late father Alan Robertson. He also sexually assaulted another girl in the Dundee area between 2015 and 2017.

He was given 11 years in jail for his crimes, while his mother was given 250 hours of unpaid work.

Both were convicted of a total of nine charges last month.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Jennifer Robertson "failed to take steps" to stop her son assaulting and raping one of the girls on various occasions between 1988 and 1995.

Jurors heard how the mother - who has 10 grandchildren - subjected complainers to painful physical assaults.

Some of the pair's victims, who were present in court for sentencing, wept throughout proceedings as their abusers stood in the dock in front of them.

After the hearing on Friday, law firm Digby Brown issued a statement in behalf of siblings who were victims.

It said: "This sentence makes us sick. We live with what happened every single day even feeling scared in our own homes.

"Yet Jennifer gets to sit at home with her feet up like nothing has happened.

"It is unfair and unjust to put victims through the pain of giving evidence when the outcome doesn't justify the means because for us, a conviction is not enough."

They added that for Robertson to be given a community sentence and for her son to be given a reduced jail term was "a slap in the face to every survivor".

The statement concluded: "We don't accept any mitigating factors for these abusers having minimal records because of course they do - their crimes were hidden for years until we spoke out.

"But to then use that as reason to justify a more lenient sentence is utterly insulting.

"The criminal sentencing guidelines need ripped up and reformed because if judges follow guidelines that leave victims in pain then maybe that's a clear sign the guidelines need changed."

Sentencing the pair, judge John Morris KC said their offending had had a "devastating impact" on their victims.

He told Jennifer Robertson she had been in a position of trust when she subjected the children in her care to "quite appalling" abuses.

The judge added: "It is clear your victims have suffered severe harm and continue to suffer severe trauma.

"You show a complete lack of remorse even for the things you admit doing."

He said he was "quite sure" her victims would like to see her go to jail.

But the judge said he had "only just drawn back from a custodial sentence" due to her age, and the fact the offending happened "a long time ago".

Sentencing Steven Robertson, he said: "You continue to deny any wrongdoing but you must appreciate I am required to sentence you in line with the jury's verdict.

"I must also have regard to the serious harm you have done to the victims."

The judge gave him an extended sentence, with 11 years in custody plus a three-year extension, which he said was for the "protection of the public and in particular young girls".

He also placed him on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Both were also handed non-harassment orders in respect of their victims.

Faye Cook, procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, said: "Jennifer Robertson had a clear duty to protect the young people in in her care and to keep them safe as an approved foster carer.

"Instead, she caused profound harm through sustained cruelty and abuse, including enabling others to sexually abuse the children."

She added: "Steven Robertson's predatory behaviour went unchecked, allowing him to systematically abuse and rape these young girls over a number of years.

"Their actions have had lifelong consequences for those affected, and I am grateful to the survivors for the courage they have shown throughout the prosecution process."

Det Con Ursula Honeyman said the investigation was "harrowing and complex" and her thoughts were with the victims.