Pensioner who repeatedly sexually assaulted bed-bound woman by letting himself into her home jailed

A pensioner who repeatedly sexually assaulted a bed-bound woman by letting himself into her home has been jailed for 16 months.

Archibald Young’s 51-year-old victim, who is barely able to speak due to illness, was able to tell her family, “Archie keeps touching me”.

A sheriff told the 81-year-old it was “self evident” he had gone back for the purposes of repeating his behaviour.

Sheriff Christopher Shead said: “A custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal.”

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that Young, a trusted family friend, had a key to the woman’s home in Braehead, Stirling, so he could help after her carers left.

The woman, who lived alone, had been diagnosed with progressive MS in 2007, had been bedbound for five years, and was fed by a tube.

Prosecutor Jamie Hillend said: “Her speech and communication abilities have decreased over time.

“She rarely speaks unless she needs something and will do so using as few words as possible.”

Mr Hillend said over the past seven or eight years, Young would “visit her often, usually around 9pm after her carers had left”.

The court was told that on five or six occasions between May and July 2025 he touched her sexually through her clothing. His victim said nothing – and gave no indication she was consenting.

On July 28, he went over to her house about 9.30 pm, went into her bedroom and closed the door.

Mr Hillend said the victim was “sweating and mumbling”. Young then sexually assaulted her.

He later admitted that “he could tell from the look on her face that she was angry”.

Around 5.30 pm the next day, the woman disclosed the sexual assault to her 25-year-old daughter and her 76-year-old father.

She told her father, “Archie keeps.”

Mr Hillend said: “Her daughter asked, ‘Archie keeps what?’

“Eventually the complainer replied, ‘touching me’.”

Her daughter asked, “Do you mean down below?” to which the victim – who the court heard could move her right hand a very short distance – gave a thumbs up.

Mr Hillend said the daughter felt that her mother had been trying to communicate something to her for a while, but had been unable to verbalise it.

The family contacted police.

Young told officers “I know what this is about” and admitted what he had done.

When Young, of Stirling, who pleaded guilty in December to sexual assault, appeared for sentence on Wednesday, solicitor Amy Harley, defending, said he was a first offender with no other matters outstanding and had been assessed by social workers as at low risk of sexual re-offending.

Ms Harley said: “He is very ashamed. He knows this is going to follow him for the rest of his life.”

In addition to the jail term, Young was placed on the sex offenders’ register.