Former foster parent who sexually abused children jailed for 12 years

A former foster parent who failed to show “a shred of genuine remorse” after sexually abusing underage girls has been jailed for 12 years.

Darren Paton repeatedly molested and raped one girl and subjected a second to his unwanted attentions during offending that spanned a decade.

A judge told Paton, 44, that he was found guilty of “a significant course of serious child sexual abuse” against his first victim.

Paton, formerly of Kirkcaldy, in Fife, had denied the sex crimes committed against the child which began in 2013 when she was aged seven during an earlier trial but was convicted of two charges or rape involving the girl.

He admitted a further charge of engaging in sexual activity with the second girl in 2023. His offending occurred at addresses in Fife.

Lord Scott told him: “Your serious sexual offending is long-standing and entrenched.”

The judge said: “You have shown not a shred of genuine remorse. You have shown no victim empathy.”

He told Paton: “Having regard to the whole circumstances only a custodial sentence, and a significant custodial sentence, is appropriate.”

Lord Scott said Paton had maintained he was innocent of the rape charges during an interview with a social worker preparing a background report on him.

But the judge told him he was not a victim, and if his life had been ripped apart then he was the one who was responsible.

Lord Scott said the rape victim had explained that the offending has a continuing impact on her and she struggles to trust people and gets flashbacks.

During Paton’s earlier trial, the Crown argued that Paton had pursued a systematic course of conduct against his victims.

Paton was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely following his sentencing and the judge made non harassment orders banning him from contacting victims.