Lengthy prison sentence for Bo'ness man who preyed on youngsters

Robert Gill (41) abused youngsters in Bo’ness and Edinburgh in a sex crime spree spanning more than two decades.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Gill groomed boys whom he befriended before molesting them.

Lord Glennie told Gill: “Three of the charges are charges of the utmost seriousness.”

The judge noted that Gill continued to protest his innocence but said that following the jury’s decision a lengthy prison sentence was inevitable, to act as a punishment and to “send out a message to others”.

He also ordered that Gill be placed on supervision for a further period of three years and told him: “It is clear you continue to pose a serious risk.”

Gill, who at one stage ran an ice cream van trading as Robbie’s Ices, provided victims with cannabis, tobacco, trips and treats before committing a catalogue of offending against seven boys.

One 14-year-old rape victim was photographed by Gill after he supplied him with cannabis and sexually assaulted him at a house in Bo’ness.