Victims condemn ‘insulting’ sentences handed to abusive foster mother and son

Two siblings who were among a number of children abused by a foster mother and her son have described their tormentors’ sentences as “utterly insulting”.

Jennifer Robertson, 79, subjected children as young as 10 months old to “quite appalling” abuse at a property in Murthly, Perthshire, between 1980 and 1995.

Her actions included physically assaulting young girls, calling them derogatory names, and forcing food down their throats.

Her son Steven Robertson, 52, sexually abused children in the household between 1986 and 1995 – sometimes acting with his late father Alan Robertson – and sexually assaulted another girl between 2015 and 2017.

Jennifer Robertson also “failed to take steps” to stop her son assaulting and raping one of the girls on various occasions between 1988 and 1995.

Both were convicted of a total of nine charges on March 20 at the High Court in Edinburgh.

At the same court on Friday, Steven Robertson was jailed for 11 years, while Jennifer Robertson was given a community payback order and ordered to perform 250 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.

In a statement issued after the hearing, the siblings said the sentences made them “sick”.

They said: “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.

“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.”

A number of the Robertsons’ victims were present in court, and some wept throughout proceedings as their abusers stood in the dock in front of them.

One of them gave a cry and hit the back of a chair as judge John Morris KC handed Jennifer Robertson the non-custodial sentence, while another shouted out that the pair are “scum”.

Sentencing the pair, the judge said their offending has 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.

“It is clear your victims have suffered severe harm and continue to suffer severe trauma,” he told her.

“You show a complete lack of remorse, even for the things you admit doing.”

He said he was “quite sure” her victims would have liked to see her go to jail, and he had “only just drawn back from a custodial sentence”, citing 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.

Neither Jennifer Robertson, who was dressed in a red cardigan, nor her son, who was wearing a black suit, showed any reaction as their sentences were handed down.

Faye Cook, procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, said: “Jennifer Robertson had a clear duty to protect the young people 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.

“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.

“The Crown treats all allegations of child abuse with the utmost seriousness.

“No matter how much time has passed, we remain committed to ensuring survivors are heard and that those responsible are held to account.”