A man abused by a violent sex offender who threatened to kill him when he was just 12 years old has blasted the “pathetic” sentence handed down to him in court.
The victim of serial paedophile William King warned the abuser would be “free to mess up other people’s lives” if he was released from a six-year jail term early.
The 57-year-old, who preyed on two girls and a boy in Edinburgh and Dalgety Bay between 1982 and 2000, had previously been jailed for five years in 2016 in a high profile abuse case, in which a victim waived her right to anonymity to speak publicly of her ordeal.
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However, the man, who cannot be identified, told how he felt ‘let down by the system’ following the decision at the High Court in Glasgow last week despite a conviction on three charges of lewd and libidinous behaviour towards the youngsters.
Now 34, he told the Daily Record : "I'm absolutely gutted and appalled.
"Six pathetic years. He'll likely be out in three. Free to mess up other peoples lives, like he did mine.
"20 years I've waited for justice and for him to get this sentence is a kick in the teeth.
"I feel so let down by the whole system."
Speaking about the abuse, the man claimed King threatened to kill him if he told his parents.
"He would say to me, 'this is our little secret' and say he would kill me if I told anyone. I was terrified and really believed he would," he said.
"He was so aggressive and frightening. I was just a wee guy. I was scared of him."
"What he did to me when I was a young boy shaped my life. I struggled to cope emotionally and blamed everyone around me.
"I was put into care because of my behaviour. I've been in and out of prison. He messed me up. I was a wee boy and I didn't know how to cope or deal with what he did to me.
"It's taken me years to come to terms and deal with what happened. I refuse to let him ruin any more years of my life."
The man said the birth of his son eight years ago forced him to turn his life around.
He added: "He gave me a purpose and made me realise that I needed to grow up. I want him to have a better life than I did."
One of King's female victim's said last week that his sentence was a "slap in the face for everyone who has waited years" for justice.
The victim, who we have not identified, said: "Some have waited 40 years for this day and although the police did an amazing job along with the PF staff we feel slapped in the teeth and insulted by this very unjust sentence for an already convicted sex offender.
"I'm confused that the judge can give him such an easy sentence after he was found guilty."
