Rapist jailed for 15 years for child sex abuse

Robert Foulkes admitted his crimes

A rapist who sexually abused three young girls in the north east of Scotland for more than a decade has been jailed for 15 years.

Robert Foulkes, 65, of Aberdeen, previously admitted two charges of rape and a further offence of indecent conduct towards a child.

The heart transplant patient and retired health and safety officer targeted his victims in the Aberdeenshire area.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Foulkes was given an 18-year extended sentence, with the custodial part being 15 years. He will then be supervised after his release.

Foulkes pled guilty to subjecting his first victim to indecent behaviour between 2006 and 2010.

Foulkes also admitted raping two other girls between 2013 and 2018.

Advocate depute Brian Gill KC said Foulkes told one of the victims that the abuse was their "little secret".

Defence counsel Neil Shand said Foulkes had heart transplant surgery about a year ago.

He added: "He is genuinely remorseful for his behaviour."

'Predatory behaviour'

Judge Lord Young told Foulkes: "You pled guilty to three charges involving extremely serious sexual offending against young girls."

The judge said that victim impact statements provided by two of them revealed the impact on their health and education.

Foulkes was told he will be on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Scotland’s Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offending, Katrina Parkes, said: "Robert Foulkes posed a significant danger to children through his predatory behaviour.

"The trauma suffered by the victims was at the forefront of our minds during this prosecution. It is thanks to the bravery of those affected by Foulkes and his offending that he has now been brought to justice."

Det Insp Bruce Buntain, of Police Scotland, added: “Foulkes has admitted a campaign of sexual violence over a significant period of time and it’s right he now faces the consequences of his despicable actions."