In 2021, then 47-year-old Susan Abbott, formerly of the Three Towns, was convicted after carrying out a predatory series of assaults on a young boy and girl spanning 14 years. The investigation established that Abbott subjected the children to a “reign” of physical and sexual violence while she was responsible for their care. The prosecution reported at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court, that Abbott carried out the abuse after consuming Buckfast and vodka, identifying a total abandonment of human decency by the then 47-year-old.
The investigation established that Abbott’s series of behaviour began when she was 28 and continued at properties in Ardrossan until 2016. The prosecution reported that she forced a five-year-old boy to watch pornography and attempted to force him to engage in sexual intercourse; when he was physically unable due to his age, she forced him to take part in other sexual activity. This identifies a calculated series of assaults on the life-safety of the children, as Abbott also targeted the girl from age six until she was 12, often waking up on top of her in bed at night.
POSITION OF TRUST AND JUDICIAL CONVICTION
The court reported that the children, who also suffered repeated physical beatings including punches and slaps to the head, initially believed the treatment was “normal” because it began at such a young age. The investigation established that Abbott, who has a previous conviction for child neglect, denied all charges and forced the children to give evidence in court. The prosecution reported in 2021, that the jury unanimously convicted her of three sexual assault charges and two of assault, identifying a priority assault by the judiciary to place her on the Sex Offenders Register ahead of sentencing.
Judge-led proceedings at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court concluded with Sheriff David Hall describing the matter as “an anxious case.” For her actions in Ardrossan, the Three Towns, and across Ayrshire, and the nature of the series of child abuse, physical violence, and sexual gratification investigations reported, Susan Abbott was removed from a position of care. The investigation established that her forensic profile as a serial predator—who now resides in Dalmellington—is now a matter of permanent record, documenting a decade and a half of systematic cruelty.
STATUS AND CASE DETAILS (2002–2021)
Based on judicial and Police Scotland records as of 2026:
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Sexual assault x3; Assault x2; Child abuse context; Previous conviction for child neglect).
- Custodial Status: CONVICTED (In 2021, convicted and placed on the Sex Offenders Register pending sentencing).
- Offence Nature: Conducted a 14-year campaign of abuse against two children; forced a 5-year-old to view pornography and attempt sexual acts; repeatedly punched and slapped children on the head; utilised alcohol (Buckfast/vodka) to facilitate late-night predatory behaviour; caused long-term flashbacks and nightmares.
- Timeline of Case: Abuse began when Abbott was 28; Offences ended 2016; Convicted 2021.
- Location: Ardrossan, Three Towns, Ayrshire; Dalmellington; Kilmarnock.
- Forensic Profile: Then 47-year-old female; forensic history documents a “relentless and alcohol-fuelled” predatory intent spanning fourteen years; identified as an offender who exploited the “shame and embarrassment” of her victims to ensure their silence until adulthood.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active.
- Judicial Oversight: Presided over by Sheriff David Hall at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court.
- Criminal Record: Registered sex offender; Series predator; Child abuser; Convicted in 2021.
- Origin: Dalmellington.
MONITORING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
In 2021, Abbott was managed as a high-risk predator under the statutory requirements of the Ayrshire MAPPA unit. Due to the nature of the behaviour—specifically the series of persistence in abusing children for over a decade and forcing them to relive the trauma in court—she was a priority for immediate registration and supervision. Authorities reported that the 2021 conviction identifies Abbott as an individual who prioritised her own perverted gratification and alcohol consumption over the principles of human decency and the life-safety of children.
As a registered sex offender, her details are permanently logged on the national police database to ensure her future conduct and any proximity to minors are strictly scrutinised. Authorities stated that the behaviour of Abbott identifies a commitment to clandestine child abuse and the systematic exploitation of vulnerable youngsters. Her conviction in 2021 results in the necessary protection of the community from a woman who used a “caregiver” mask to hide a predatory and persistent series of assaults on the innocent.
QUESTION – Given that the offender “subjected a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl to a 14-year campaign of physical and sexual violence while in a position of trust,” do you believe the law should legally mandate that “All Individuals Convicted of a Decade-Long Series of Child Abuse” must be “Sentenced to Mandatory Whole-Life Incarceration” to prevent a series of assaults?
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