Locations
Gott, Shetland, Scotland, ZE2
Description
A sports centre manager on Shetland has been jailed for five years after admitting sexually abusing four young boys over a period of 17 years.
Stephen Duncan, 45, of Gott, gave his victims, aged between seven and 13, gifts including computer games.
Duncan made sex videos of the boys while working as a lifeguard.
The High Court in Glasgow heard the offences took place between 1978 and 1995 at the swimming pool in Lerwick, at Duncan's home and in a caravan.
Lewd practices
Duncan's crimes only came to light when one of his victims mentioned it during counselling after a road accident.
At an earlier hearing he pled guilty to charges of lewd practices and indecent assault involving four boys.
He was placed on the sex offenders' register.
The court heard that Duncan helped draw up child protection rules in the Clickimin Leisure Complex where he was the 40,000 a year manager.
Judge Lord Abernethy told Duncan his crimes were a gross breach of the trust placed on him by his employers and the parents of his victims.
He added: "You were employed to keep them safe, but instead you took advantage of your position to abuse them.
"The effects on your victims are simply incalculable."
Lord Abernethy took account of the fact that Duncan had contributed positively in various ways to the community and also the fact that the consequences for him might be greater than in a larger anonymous community.
Matthew Jackson, defending, said Duncan appreciated the anguish he had caused the victims and revealed that he now faced bankruptcy after losing his job.
He added: "He is a classic example of a man who has lost it all as a result of his activities and there are grave doubts whether he will ever be able to return home.
"His father is very ill and when he saw him last he knew it would be the last time they would see each other."