Mum slams court delays over Ayr abuse trial

Dec 19 2008

A MAN accused of abusing two little girls has had his trial adjourned FIVE times.

And the children’s mother says she is at the end of her tether waiting for the case to begin.

The woman, who cannot be identified, has had court citation after court citation since Thomas Whiteford was charged with abusing her nine and 11-year-old daughters.

But every time she prepares herself to give evidence, the case is postponed.

And last week, the woman came face to face with her daughters’ alleged abuser outside Ayr Sheriff Court.

She said: “This has been going on for 18 months, we can’t believe how long things are taking. Having this hanging over our heads last year ruined our Christmas. We feel that we are no further forward a year down the line, it seems this Christmas will be just as bad.”

Thomas Whiteford was first arrested and charged with lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour against the girls on February 13 this year.

He was released on bail but failed to turn up for a court appearance on July 8.

On July 15, the 63-year-old appeared in court and pleaded not guilty.

His trial on July 21 was adjourned and fresh dates were set for August 5.

But on the morning of the trial, Whiteford claimed he couldn’t hear the court proceedings and the trial was adjourned until September 30.

The trial was postponed further when an audiology report which had been called for wasn’t ready.

On October 10, Whiteford’s defence team told the court they wanted a psychiatric report done on their client.

A fresh trial was set for December 5, but the case has now been adjourned until the New Year while a secondary psychiatric report is prepared.

One of the girls claimed to her mother in July last year she had been sexually abused by Whiteford on several occasions dating as far back as 2002.

It later transpired that Whiteford also allegedly abused the girl’s younger sister at an address in New Cumnock.

The mother continued: “The family can’t put closure on the whole thing and move on until it has been dealt with in a court of law.”