Colin Fowler

A former police officer from Fife, Colin Fowler, has been imprisoned for a second time for committing sexual offences against boys in the RAF cadets. The 81-year-old, who served with Fife Constabulary and acted as a cadet leader at RAF Pitreavie in Dunfermline, admitted to two counts of indecent assault against a third victim, who was aged 17 to 18 at the time.

The offences occurred between January and December 1982 at Fowler's then-home in East Green, Anstruther. According to court details reported by The Courier, Fowler befriended the victim through the air training corps, invited him to his home, supplied him with alcohol, and then subjected him to predatory sexual abuse. This pattern mirrors his previous convictions, where he targeted other boys in a similar manner.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Armstrong described Fowler's actions as 'calculating, manipulative and predatory sexual abuse of a young boy who you knew through your involvement with the RAF cadets.' The judge highlighted the 'devastating and ongoing, long-term consequences' for the victim, noting society's abhorrence of such conduct. He emphasised that imprisonment was the only appropriate disposal, stating, 'I am satisfied that in your case there is no appropriate alternative disposal to one of imprisonment.'

Fowler was previously sentenced to four-and-a-half years in 2018 for sexual offences against two other cadet boys and was released on licence in 2021. In considering the latest sentence, Lord Armstrong accounted for Fowler's age, health, the historical nature of the crimes, and their connection to his prior offending. The original 18-month term was reduced to 16 months due to Fowler's guilty plea. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

• Advocate depute Eric Robertson informed the court that Fowler's previous convictions were 'directly analogous' to the current charges, involving befriending cadets, providing alcohol, and sharing a bed before abusing them.
• The victim, aware of Fowler's police connections, initially feared he would not be believed and attempted to report the abuse by calling Dunfermline police station in the 1980s but received no follow-up.
• Upon learning of Fowler's other offences, the victim contacted Police Scotland, leading to this prosecution.
• The abuse resulted in the victim suffering 'anguish, depression and difficulty finding enjoyment in life,' as detailed in court.

Fowler, residing at Harbourlea in Anstruther, exploited his position of trust within the cadets and police to groom and assault vulnerable young boys over decades.