Mums weep as court hears how young sons were abused by pervert

TWO mums wept in court today as they heard how their young sons were plied with alcohol by a pervert so he could commit sex acts on them.

Joseph Johnstone, 67, initially gave the 15-year-olds tea and biscuits when they visited at an Edinburgh address but later gave them alcohol.

Fiscal depute Melanie Ward told Edinburgh Sheriff Court: "There was a building up of friendship between this man and the boys.

"On one occasion in May last year when both boys attended the address the accused supplied both of them with alcohol to the extent that they became quite drunk and on this one occasion the accused took both children upstairs into one of the bedrooms and showed them films of a pornographic nature."

One of the boys began to feel unwell and left the room and went downstairs leaving Johnstone and the other boy together in the bedroom.

Ms Ward said the boy was asked by Johnstone to unbuckle his belt and Johnstone then performed sex acts on him.

The court heard about two days later the two boys returned and on this occasion again after alcohol had been consumed Johnstone took the other boy upstairs and performed sex acts on him.

Ms Ward told the court the offence came to light when one of the mums became concerned as to her son's whereabouts and went to the address where she found the youngster lying on a bed there.

When Johnstone was interviewed by police he said the youngsters had asked to watch porn and had asked him to perform sex acts even though they were not capable of consenting due to their age.

Miss Ward said: "The accused was then interviewed where he admitted knowing that both of the boys were 15 years of age.

"He claimed that both were psychic and that one of the complainers would come to visit and Mr Johnstone would explain what his dreams meant.

"He initially stated that nothing of a sexual nature had occurred but he did admit that he had supplied them with alcohol."

Ms Ward added that the parents of the boys had been left feeling "extremely distressed" by the incident.

Johnstone admitted abusing the two 15-year-old boys at an address in Edinburgh between May and June of last year.

Sheriff Alistair Noble told Johnstone, who was living in Edinburgh at the time of the offences but is now of Erskine Way, Shotts: "It is obvious the effect this has had on the families and the serious effects on the boys concerned.

"Given you are a first offender I will continue bail but you no doubt appreciate the gravity of these matters."

He deferred sentence until next month for background reports and placed Johnstone on the sex offenders register.

Pleas in mitigation will also be heard at the later date.