Partner pledges to stand by child abuse accused

A CARE worker whose partner is accused of sexually abusing three underage schoolboys is “standing by her man”.

Tanya Walker, who has lived with Graham Borthwick for more than six years, told the High Court in Livingston she never had any concerns about his behaviour towards children.

Her stance was highlighted by defence counsel Drew McKenzie in his closing speech to the jury yesterday. He said Ms Walker was “someone you’d think wouldn’t suffer fools”.

Borthwick, 46, a prisoner in Edinburgh, denies three charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards the alleged victims, one aged between eight and 11, between June 2008 and March this year.

Borthwick, from Tranent, also denies sexually assaulting a boy between September 2009 and November 2010 when he was aged 14 and 15.

But advocate depute Stephen O’Rourke urged the jury to return a guilty verdict.