May 2021

Predatory paedophile who bribed victims with sweets jailed for 17 years

A man described by a judge as a “predatory paedophile” has been handed another 17-year prison term.

Albert Bremner, 58, was given a lifelong restriction order in 2009 for abusing two young girls.

In the new case, he targeted victims at locations in Aberdeenshire and Moray between 1993 and 2005.

Bremner, of Keith, Moray, denied the offences, but a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts to 11 charges of rape and sexual assault.

The High Court in Aberdeen heard how the five girls were aged between six and 14 at the time Bremner preyed upon them.

Jurors heard how Bremner groomed the children by offering them sweets and cigarettes.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lady Poole said: “You are a predatory paedophile and the abuse you subjected your victims to was of the most serious nature – you carried out a series of depraved acts on them.

“After hearing your victims give evidence in court it is clear that what you did to them has had a profound and lasting impact on them. They are to be commended for giving evidence in court against you.

“You show no remorse for your actions and you have deeply troubling attitudes ingrained deeply within you.”

She added: “This level of wickedness can only lead to the imposition of a prison sentence. The sexual abuse of children is abhorrent and will not be tolerated by society. The sentence of the court will be one of 17 years.”

August 2009

Moray paedophile jailed for abusing two girls

A sex predator has been sentenced to at least five years in jail after keeping a collection of photos of two girls he subjected to an ordeal of abuse.

The pictures, which showed the naked child victims, were found during a search at Albert Bremner’s former home in Keith, in Moray.

Bremner, 46, plied the children with cigarettes and money before molesting them, persuading them to pose and taking indecent photographs of them during a catalogue of abuse between April 2004 and November 2007.

He also attacked one of the girl’s when she was aged 12 intending to rape her, but stopped when the victim began crying and said she would tell her mother. He carried out a similar assault on the second victim when she was 15-years-old.

Bremner pushed her onto a bed in his home and attempted to carry out a sex act on her while the girl pleaded with him to stop. The doorbell of the house then rang, and Bremner left his victim.

The father-of-four, who later moved to Darwen in Lancashire, admitted assaulting both girls with intent to rape them, indecency offences against them and taking indecent pictures of the victims.

On Thursday at the High Court in Edinburgh, judge Lord Menzies said: “The offences which you have pled guilty to are not only serious, but must have caused considerable distress to the victims.

“The effects of your actions one can only speculate about in relation to the victims.”

The judge said that having studied reports on Bremner he considered that the criteria were met for imposing an indefinite sentence on him through an Order for Lifelong Restriction, which is reserved for the most serious cases of violent and sexual offending.

Lord Menzies added: “An Order for Lifelong Restriction may mean precisely that. It may mean you are imprisoned for life.”

Bremner will only ever be freed now if the Parole Board sanction his release from jail.

Lord Menzies said he would order that the sex offender serve five years’ imprisonment before he becomes eligible to apply for parole.

May 2021

Speyside paedophile jailed for 13 years for raping three girls

A sex predator who carried out an “appalling” catalogue of abuse and rape against children was jailed for 13 years today.

Gary Dunn left one young girl feeling that she wanted to suffocate and die as he subjected her to a painful sexual assault.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told Dunn (61): “Child sexual abuse is an abhorrent crime and will not be tolerated in our society.”

Lady Poole said that Dunn had been convicted of “appalling offences” of sexual crime against his victims.

The judge said victims “had to endure many disgusting acts of depravity” carried out by Dunn for his gratification.

Dunn preyed on child victims over more than two decades at addresses in Moray and the rape of one victim in Aberdeen.

He had earlier denied a series of charges during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, but was found guilty of three rape offences and three indecency crimes against girls.

Dunn, formerly of Rothes, began his sex crime spree in 1998 and continued until 2019 during which time he abused three girl victims.

Lady Poole said that victim impact statements provided to the court made “distressing reading”.

One woman who was molested and assaulted by Dunn as a child said that on one occasion she was subjected to a painful ordeal.

She said: “I had my head in between pillows and I was hoping I could suffocate and die, to be honest.”

The woman, now aged 32, thought that she was 13 or 14 years old when Dunn perpetrated the abuse in the incident.

Advocate depute Peter Ferguson QC asked her how she felt afterwards and she replied: “I felt sore. I felt numb. I just wanted it to stop.”

Dunn had previously preyed on the girl and told her to close her eyes during sex acts he performed on her.

His most recent abuse of a child occurred in 2018 and 2019 when he sexually assaulted a girl from the age of 10 and simulated sex with her and raped her.

He had previously molested another girl from the age between 2003 and 2006 when he touched her and simulated sex with her.

Dunn had appeared in the dock at his trial with the aid of two walking sticks and his defence counsel Bill Adam drew attention to his age and declining health.

Mr Adam told the court: “It is very difficult for him in prison given his conditions.”

Lady Poole ordered that Dunn should be kept under supervision for a further three year period.

Dunn was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

May 2021

Former RAF man handed extended sentence over ‘appalling’ rape of child

A former RAF technician has been handed a 13-year extended sentence after being found guilty of the “appalling” rape of a young child on multiple occasions.

Michael Tonberg, 48, sexually abused the girl at addresses including Elgin and Lossiemouth over a number of years in the 2000s and 2010s.

Tonberg appeared in the dock at the High Court in Aberdeen to be sentenced over the horrifying offences after being found guilty following a trial.

He was convicted of two charges of assaulting and raping a child while she was under the age of 12.

Tonberg was also found guilty of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the child, and sexually assaulting her.

Additionally, he was further found guilty of downloading and possessing indecent images or pseudo-images of children.

Tonberg had denied the charges but, following his conviction, now accepts responsibility.

Judge Graham Buchanan told Tonberg: “You were convicted by the jury of what can only be described as offences involving the appalling sexual abuse over a significant period of a young child.

“You were also convicted of downloading and possessing indecent images of children.

“On the basis of the circumstances of the offences committed and the results of the risk assessment, I’m satisfied that the criteria for the imposition of an extended sentence are met.”

He imposed a 13-year extended sentence, comprising of a 10-year jail term and a further three years in the community on licence and under supervision.

The judge also made Tonberg, whose address was given as Castle Court, Lossiemouth, subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act for an indefinite period.

April 2001

RAF mechanic had sex with 14-year-old on air base

AN aircraft mechanic has been sent back to England by the Royal Air Force after he confessed to smuggling a 14-year-old girl into his barracks for sex.

Adam Armstrong, 22, who works on Tornados, admitted he told security guards at RAF Lossiemouth, Moray, the girl in his car was his sister and claimed he wanted to show her the base.