Siblings abused in foster care to sue Perth and Kinross Council

A brother and sister abused by their foster mother are planning legal action against Perth and Kinross Council over alleged failures that allowed the abuse to continue.

Jennifer Robertson, 79, was convicted of the cruel and unnatural treatment of children between 1980 and 1995 following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

Jurors heard she carried out physical assaults on children in her care, while her son, Steven Robertson, 52, sexually assaulted and raped young girls in the same household.

He was remanded in custody and placed on the sex offenders register, while Jennifer was granted bail ahead of sentencing next week.

The brother and sister, who wish to remain anonymous, were among those who gave evidence and say they still live with the trauma of what happened under Robertson’s care.

They now fear the 79-year-old may avoid a significant punishment due to her age and because she is a first-time offender.

In a joint statement, the siblings said: “To this day, we still carry the trauma of what happened.

“The abuse in that home changed the course of our lives forever, and it was undoubtedly for the worse.

“Jennifer used to shove food down our throats with her fingers and humiliated us.

“We survived in that house together and only had each other, yet that woman broke us to such an extent that we couldn’t even be near each other for fear of remembering.

“The pressure and pain that comes from living your life behind a mask or compartmentalising… It’s overwhelming and paralysing.

“Reliving our experiences for the prosecution was an extremely painful experience, and at times it felt like our trauma only worsened.

“But knowing our evidence was helping convict our abuser, and that it may help others come forward, is what gave us the strength to keep going.

“Luckily, we have been able to overcome what was affecting us so we can now stand together to face our demons, and those demons have names – Jennifer and Steven.”

The abuse came to light in 2018, prompting a police investigation which led to multiple victims coming forward and the Robertsons being brought to trial.

Edinburgh High Court heard that on various occasions throughout the 1980s, Jennifer called children derogatory names and physically assaulted them, with one boy having his head struck against a wall.

The siblings claim they raised concerns with social work services as children at the time, but were ignored.

“The conviction only relates to a fraction of what happened and, in all reality, Jennifer will likely face no real punishment”, the statement added.

“The judge made reference to her being a first-time offender, so it makes us sick to think she could still get a discounted sentence just because she got old and was able to get away with her crimes for so long, not to mention showing no remorse as per her not guilty plea.

“But we cannot forget the failures of the social work department in all this. We reported things when we were aged just nine and four, but were ignored, disbelieved and put to one side.

“Perth and Kinross Council knew for decades and did nothing, and we won’t rest until someone at the council admits they failed us.”

During the same time period, Steven sexually assaulted a young girl, and during the 1970s and 1980s, the 52-year-old, while acting with his now-dead father Alan, sexually assaulted another child.

He raped another child throughout the late 1980s and 1990s.

The pair will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on April 17.

Digby Brown Solicitors is now investigating whether the local authority may be liable for any failings.

Senior associate Catherine Hammond said: “The Robertson convictions highlight yet again the devastating impact of sustained abuse on vulnerable children and the critical importance of robust safeguarding.

“When children are placed in foster care, the local authority assumes legal responsibility for their safety.

“If warning signs were missed or concerns were not acted upon, those systemic failures must now be fully examined.

“Our priority is to ensure survivors receive the answers, accountability, and recognition they have been denied for decades.”

Perth and Kinross Council has been contacted for comment.