James Torbett convicted for indecent assault on teenage boy

James Torbett (75) has today been convicted in connection with offences relating to the sexual assault of a teenage boy whilst he was a coach at a local football team. The offences occurred between 1967 and 1968.

Torbett has been on trial at the High Court in Inverness. He was sentenced and will now need to serve a further three years on top of his current sentence.

Detective Inspector Jim McLauchlan, of the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “We hope this conviction brings some measure of closure to his victim.

"We are very aware of how difficult it can be to report being a victim of child abuse. It can take many years before people feel able to report. Our assurance to anyone who may have been a victim of child abuse is that when they are ready to report we will listen, we will investigate and we will take prompt action to ensure that no-one else is at risk of harm.‎

"We are all responsible for protecting Scotland's children. It is up to all of us to recognise when a child may be at risk and to take steps to protect them and to prevent harm. It is also up to us to create an environment where people feel able to report being a victim of sexual crime without feeling shame.

"We would ask anyone who has concerns or information about any person who may pose a risk to children, or who may have abused a child, to contact Police Scotland on 101.”