Foster Dad Jailed For Sex Abuse

A foster father who sexually abused three vulnerable girls in his care has been jailed for seven years.

{mosimage}Thomas Judge, 55, who was on the board of trustees of a fostering network, molested two of the victims at a yacht marina where he berthed a boat.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh said he had “perpetrated a prolonged course of sexual abuse of quite the most offensive kind”.

Lord Turnbull said the case involved an “almost immeasurable abuse of trust”.

He added: “Each of these children was given into your care on the premise that you would provide for them an environment in which their personal safety would be guaranteed and you would facilitate and nurture their emotional needs.”

But Lord Turnbull said Judge had instead “used them for sexual gratification and taken advantage of their vulnerability”.

First offender Judge, who was estimated to have fostered more than 100 children with his wife, had denied abusing the youngsters, but was earlier convicted after a trial.

Lord Turnbull said: “These proceedings have brought you before the courts for the first time in your life.

“As a man of your age, with otherwise a good character and an impressive history of employment, it is little wonder your family and friends remain supportive of you and find themselves unable to disbelieve your protestations of innocence.”

He added: “I am prepared to take account of the fact you and your wife provided a very valuable service to many other children and babies who care into your care for varying periods as a consequence of their family difficulties.”

The abuse of his first victim began in 1996 when she was aged nine and took place at a house in Ayrshire and at Troon Yacht Haven.

A second girl was abused from the age of 11 and the third girl was a teenager who was sexually assaulted by Judge in 2005.

He was convicted of a total of four charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour and three of indecent assault.

The court heard that Judge, formerly of Cunninghamhead, in Ayrshire, had worked in responsible positions both in Britain and abroad.

Judge began fostering children full-time in 1995. His defence counsel Tom Ross said: “It is clear, in my submission, that the assistance he gave was valued by the social work department.”

He added that Judge had served for three years with a fostering network and was recognised as having made “an outstanding personal contribution” to the work of the organisation.

The defence counsel said that Judge, who has been held in jail while awaiting sentence, has “found his time in prison extremely difficult”.

Mr Ross said Judge had prostate problems, nerve damage and depression and has been in the hospital wing at Kilmarnock prison.

Lord Turnbull told Judge that he would be subject to notification requirements under the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

He said he also proposed to refer the case to the Scottish ministers under child protection legislation which could place Judge on a list of those banned from working with children.