Victims of abuse by foster carers could get £1m payout from Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen councils

Two Scottish councils could be forced to pay out more than £1m in compensation to victims of abuse at the hands of their foster carers.

Aberdeenshire Council has already paid out £775,000 to two victims, according to lawyers.

Eight other cases against the local authority and Aberdeen City Council are also expected to be settled.

Laura Connor, of Thompsons Solicitors, has stated that she believes the final total will exceed £1m.

The cases involve three different foster care households in the region.

John Sinclair was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2022, aged 72, after pleading guilty to assault and sexual offences between 1974 and 1980.

Sinclair was arrested in 2019 following an investigation by Police Scotland’s National Child Abuse Investigation Unit.

He admitted 11 charges, including three of assault and rape, and lewd behaviour.

Another case involves Sandra Harper, who was convicted in 2023 of abusing children in her care between 1985 and 2002.

Harper was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work at Peterhead Sheriff Court. She later died.

Aberdeen City Council previously settled a five-figure historic abuse claim to a victim of William Morrice, who was ruled to have beaten and molested five children aged between four and 15 during the 1970s and 80s.

Morrice was charged in 2022 but deemed medically unfit to stand trial in July 2024.

A civil claim was raised against the local authority as the historic successor of Grampian Regional Council on the basis that it failed to act on the warnings of a whistleblower in 1983.

Ms Connor, head of the life impact team at Thompsons, said she was acting for ten victims seeking compensation.

A spokesperson for Aberdeenshire Council said: “We continually review our practice policy and procedures to ensure children and young people cared for by the local authority are looked after by carers who meet stringent vetting and assessment processes.

“Children’s advocacy is in place to ensure that children and young people who are looked after have every opportunity to speak to an independent person out with the care setting about their experiences and social workers are also required to ensure young people are visited out with the foster family home to ensure they have the opportunity to talk openly.”

Aberdeen Council has been contacted for comment.