Clydebank Post | News | CHILD ‘VICTIMS’ GIVE EVIDENCE AT ABUSE TRIAL

Sunday, 11th May, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 7th May, 2008 10:00

CHILD ‘VICTIMS’ GIVE EVIDENCE AT ABUSE TRIAL

TWO young girls have told a jury of their alleged ordeal at the hands of a ‘sex attacker’.

The girls, who were aged just four and 10 at the time of the alleged assaults, gave evidence at the trial of Terence Weir, who is charged with using lewd behaviour towards them.

During the three-day jury trial, Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard how Weir allegedly lured the older girl into his bedroom in Old Kilpatrick to play computer games.

The girl, now aged 18, told the court how Weir — who was baby-sitting her at the time — then touched her chest.

She claimed that the abuse happened on between 10 and 20 occasions over a two-month period between Christmas Day 1999 and February 29 2000.

The court heard that on each occasion Weir touched her in intimate areas of her body on top of her clothing.

Sheila McDermid, fiscal depute, told the court that four years later Weir allegedly abused a second girl he baby-sat for at two addresses in Clydebank, and a third address in England, over a two year period.

The second victim, who was aged just four at the time, told the court that Weir attempted to “kiss her in a way her mummy didn’t”.

She then alleged that the 36-year-old forced her to do things to him and did things to her — the details of which are too graphic to reveal in a family newspaper.

After an incident in December 2005 the girl, who is now just eight-years-old, claimed she told Weir that what he was doing was wrong.

She then left a note saying “Terry stay out of my room”. But Terence Weir claimed that the girls’ stories were a fabrication.

He chose to give evidence at the trial on Friday and said he did not know why the girls had made up the accusations.

It was claimed that someone close to both the victims had said that if Weir was not going to be tried for the first alleged assault then he would make sure he “would get him” for the second.

Defending, Ms Glancy, said: “The evidence of the two girls is fundamental and absolutely crucial.

“I would suggest that if it comes down to the Crown evidence alone the jury must be left with reasonable doubt.”

She said that her client should be commended for giving evidence — something which he is legally not required to do.

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