Aberdeen man who abused young girl avoids jail


A man who sexually abused a five year old girl when he was a teenager has avoided jail.
Lee Weir, 31, from Aberdeen, committed the offence, involving the five-year-old girl, in 2003 or 2004 when he was 13 or 14.
Lord Uist said it was “serious and disgusting” abuse which deeply impacted the girl’s life.
However, the judge told the High Court in Edinburgh that he was satisfied a non-custodial disposal could be made.
Instead, he imposed a two-year community payback order on Weir – with 300 hours of unpaid work to be carried out, a supervision order, and a requirement to undertake an offender programme.
Advocate depute Jane Farquharson QC said the victim did not disclose to anyone what had happened at the time.
In later life she revealed to a relative that she had been abused as a child.
The court heard that Weir also revealed to a woman that he had abused the girl and said he wanted to go to the police as he felt ashamed and embarrassed.
However, it was a member of the victim’s family who contacted police last year and Weir was arrested the following day.
The judge noted: “Normally a plea of guilty to such an offence would without question result in a prison sentence.”
Weir was placed on the sex offenders register for five years.