An East Lothian karting boss who preyed on young boys as they chased Formula One dreams is facing a lengthy stretch behind bars.
Andrew Fairley, 58, of Millhill, Musselburgh, spent years overseeing karting activities at venues across Scotland, England and Wales and ran the Clan Racing track in Larkhall, Lanarkshire. But it was just a front to cover for sickening abuse of the youngsters in his care. Fairley abused four boys aged between 10 and 17 dozens of times in his caravan, garage and at race venues and also gave them alcohol before molesting them.
He has appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted five charges of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices, indecent assault and sexual assault between 2005 and 2018. Sheriff Thomas Millar made the rare move of referring the case to the High Court for sentencing after hearing Fairley had already been jailed for eight years at Carlisle Crown Court for child sex offences.
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The sheriff said the 'grave' offences meant an order for lifelong restriction could be imposed on Fairley for his twisted campaign of sexual abuse. Depute fiscal Alice Carey told how Fairley had targeted youngsters in Scotland. He showed some of the boys pornographic DVDs and performed sex acts on himself and them.
Fairley paid one youngster £60 each time he stayed with him over a three year period while another told police the fiend had targeted him over 100 times. The serial pervert also instructed his victims to keep the abuse secret and told one 'it was just two guys keeping each other happy'.
The court was told Fairley threatened to refuse to take boys karting if they revealed the abuse. An investigation was launched after one brave youngster reported him to the police and he was charged.
Detailing the abuse of one youngster, Miss Carey said: "The complainer said the abuse happened every time he stayed with the accused over a two or three year period. The accused told him not to tell anyone as he would not get to come karting again. He was paid £60 every time he was away."
Sheriff Millar said: "This case shows a course of behaviour which might be one that the High Court could consider requires an order for lifelong restriction which is something I cannot do." Fairley will be sentenced at a later date and was remanded in custody. Scottish Conservative shadow community safety minister, Russell Findlay MSP, who represents the family of a victim who sparked the police investigation, said: "This predatory paedophile used his position of responsibility to prey on young boys with a love of motorsport.
"It is absolutely scandalous that a man with a child sex abuse conviction was able to hide in plain sight." Fairley was sentenced to eight years in prison at Carlisle Crown Court on July 1.
He admitted two counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child. The paedophile was also convicted of causing a child under 13 to watch an image of sexual activity, engaging in sexual communications with a child and sexual assault on a male.
Fairley also pled guilty to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and inciting a boy under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity. The offences related to incidents involving two boys which occurred between January 2006 and July 2011 in Rowrah, Cumbria.
In 1996, he admitted indecently assaulting a boy aged between ten and 14 in Edinburgh before he launched the karting business in Larkhall. A profile of Fairley on a karting website said: "This no nonsense leader has an uncanny knack of finding raw talented drivers and honing them into champions.
"With many British and Scottish champions past and present Andy certainly puts in the time, the only thing he expects his drivers to do is listen and learn, that's how champions are made."
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