Fife: Former policeman admits sex assault from 40 years ago

Colin Fowler was working for Fife Constabulary at the time of the crimes and served as a cadet leader at RAF Pitreavie in Dunfermline.

He carried out two indecent assaults on the victim after inviting him to his then home in Anstruther and offering him drink.

Fowler, now aged 81, was earlier sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment in 2018 for sex offences against two other victims who he plied with alcohol and molested after meeting them through the air training corps.

He was released on licence in 2021.

At his trial in 2018 Fowler had denied carrying out sex attacks on the two former cadets, who were aged between 13 and 16 at the time, but was unanimously found guilty.

Fowler admitted the sex attacks at the High Court in Edinburgh. (Image: Newsquest)

He appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this week where he admitted two further offences against a third victim.

Fowler carried out two indecent assaults against the teenager between January and December in 1982 at his former home in East Green, Anstruther.

Advocate depute Eric Robertson told the court: "He is a retired police officer and receives a police pension monthly."

The prosecutor said that Fowler's previous offending was "directly analogous" to the latest charges as the victims were all befriended by him while they were involved with the cadets.

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He would supply them with alcohol after inviting them to his home and then share a bed with the boys.

Mr Robertson said the latest complainer was aged 17 to 18 at the time Fowler subjected him to abuse after inviting him to his home to show him a Scottish fishing village.

He said the victim knew Fowler's connection with the police and did not think he would be believed if he told anyone.

The prosecutor said the teenager did call Dunfermline police station in the 1980s to report the abuse, but did not receive a call back.

He said he had the feeling that his report was not being taken seriously at the time.

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Mr Robertson said the actions of Fowler caused the victim "anguish, depression and difficulty finding enjoyment in life".

He found out that the accused had been convicted of offences against other boys and contacted Police Scotland in 2020.

Defence counsel Tony Lenehan KC said Fowler has various health difficulties, including Parkinson's disease.

He said: "Parkinson's means the ability to reach back four decades or more in his memory has not been straightforward."

He said that Fowler, of Harbourlea, Anstruther, now lives in sheltered accommodation and asked that his bail be continued ahead of sentencing next month.

The judge, Lord Armstrong, called for a background report and continued his bail.

Fowler was placed on the sex offenders' register and is due to be sentenced on December 1 at the High Court in Glasgow.