Top Scots lawyer accused of sexually abusing Edinburgh woman when she was a child

AuthorConnor Gordon
Published date24 June 2022
Publication titleEdinburghLive (Scotland)
The 50-year-old said advocate John Watt groped her in bed during a lawyers' party at a property in Edinburgh city centre. She told the jury that at one social gathering she had been asleep in bed before being woken by Watt at the bedroom door

According to the Daily Record, Prosecutor Katy Harper asked what happened and the witness replied: "I think he said something about being cold or tired … and got into bed, my bed.

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"As I was lying there he put his hand down my pyjama bottoms, I was facing away from the door."

The woman said she told her parents and did not see Watt, from Glasgow, again. He denies using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices on the witness between 1978 and 1983.

Watt is accused of raping another girl aged seven to 11 between 1973 and 1978 at an address in the west end of the city. Watt has lodged a special defence incriminating deceased solicitor Richard Watt.

John Watt is also accused of indecent practices with a 12-year-old boy between 1973 and 1987 in Leith, and indecent assault between 1978 and 1983 on a girl aged nine to 14 in Edinburgh.

The woman told the court in evidence that she was aware of Watt being a member of the Faculty of Advocates. She stated that he attended social gatherings at the property in Edinburgh city centre with other guests such as advocate Lawrence Nisbet and deceased lawyer Bill Fotheringham.

The woman claimed at one social gathering she went to bed and was asleep before being woke up by Watt at the bedroom door. She said: "He appeared to be taking his shoes off as if he was going to get undressed or something."

Prosecutor Katy Harper asked what happened and the witness replied: "I...

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