Dad Admits Sexual Abuse Of Daughter’s Friend 30 Years Ago

A FATHER who sexually abused his daughter’s five-year-old friend almost 30 years ago was brought to justice today.

Allan Smith, 62, admitted using lewd and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the girl at his home in Dunbar, East Lothian in 1980 and 1981.

He pled guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and will be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register.

The offences came to light after his victim, now a 33-year-old woman, tried to commit suicide last year.

The court was told the woman had been too scared to report the abuse when she was a child for fear she would be unable to play with her friend.

Smith would send his daughter out of the house in Pine Street, Dunbar, while he abused the girl regularly until she was seven years-old.

When interviewed by police in May last year, Smith admitted abusing the girl and said he was sorry for what he had done and had been waiting 20 years for officers to come knocking at his door.

His victim told Smith’s daughter about the abuse in 1998 but urged her not to tell anyone.

When she took an overdose last year, Smith’s daughter urged her to tell police.

He had been convicted of lewd and libidinous behaviour towards another child in 1984, for which he served one years’ probation.

Smith, of Lammermuir Crescent, Dunbar, is on bail and will be sentenced next month following reports.