In a case that has haunted many for years, William Brydson, formerly the head of care at a Newton Stewart boarding school, has been sentenced to a decade in prison. His conviction marks a moment of relief for survivors, including Dawn Crawford and Michelle Kilpatrick, who faced a harrowing wait for justice after enduring abuse during their school years.

Decades of Legal Struggles

In the 1980s, Crawford and Kilpatrick were pupils at a Dumfries and Galloway boarding school, where Brydson, aged 78, misused his position by subjecting them to both physical and sexual abuse. Although he was previously sentenced in 2003 for physical assaults, legal mishaps resulted in the sexual abuse charges being dropped. Originally, Brydson received a two-year sentence, later reduced to nine months.

Prosecutors were heavily criticized for procedural mistakes, which initially allowed Brydson to evade full accountability. But former pupils remained steadfast in their pursuit of justice, leading to a new trial that successfully addressed previous oversights.

A Pervasive Shadow

Throughout her teenage years, Dawn Crawford experienced relentless abuse. This included enforced manual labor and harsh disciplinary actions. She recalls Brydson imposing military-style regimen and remembers the terror of being manipulated into vulnerable situations, where he would then commit his offenses.

These experiences left Crawford with lasting emotional scars, drastically altering her life and identity. She describes her transformation from a sociable child to a reclusive adult dealing with depression and other health issues.

Survivors' Voices

Michelle Kilpatrick, another survivor, recounts a similar ordeal. She arrived at the school after escaping a difficult home environment, only to find herself trapped in another cycle of abuse. She now bravely speaks about the ongoing impact of those traumatic years, which include PTSD and other health concerns.

The recent sentencing has offered closure, but Kilpatrick emphasizes deep-rooted damage. She, along with Crawford, hopes their stories will encourage other victims of similar abuse to come forward and seek justice.

Impact and Change

The conviction was supported by new evidence, illustrating the continuing commitment to bring justice to historical abuse cases. Brydson has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely, ensuring he cannot harm others.

Meanwhile, Procurator Fiscal Faye Cook acknowledges past deficiencies in handling such sensitive cases and stresses the importance of using these lessons to refine future prosecutions.

Ongoing Investigation

The Monken Hadley school, known under different names before closing in the early 2000s, is under investigation as part of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. Though the building has been demolished, the emotional and psychological impact on those who attended remains significant.

For Crawford and Kilpatrick, Brydson's sentencing is bittersweet. While it marks a significant personal victory, they remain advocates for all those whose voices were never heard, ensuring that the history of abuse is acknowledged and addressed.

Source:bbc uk