Aston Bruce MacQueen

A Dundee man, Aston Bruce MacQueen, has been sentenced to 18 years and eight months in prison following his conviction for child sex offences committed over a decade ago. The 29-year-old, formerly residing in the Fintry area of Dundee, was tried and found guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court.

The offences took place between 2004 and 2005 when MacQueen was just 17 years old and living in the Leeds area. He was convicted of sexually abusing a child during this period. After the incidents, MacQueen relocated back to Scotland, settling in the Fintry neighbourhood of Dundee, where he lived until recently. The case came to light through investigations, with Police Scotland becoming aware of potential concerns as early as 2013, though details of the inquiries remain undisclosed.

During the sentencing hearing at Leeds Crown Court, the severity of the crimes led to the substantial custodial sentence. A former acquaintance of MacQueen, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed relief at the outcome after a prolonged wait for justice. She stated, "I have waited 12 long years for justice. We are happy with the sentence, but the 12 year wait for justice was difficult. I am pleased the jury saw through his lies and found him guilty, he has a long time to think about the damage he’s done." She also voiced concerns that MacQueen might have committed further offences while in Dundee.

Local residents in the Fintry area were stunned upon learning of their former neighbour's criminal history. One grandmother, who had lived on the same street for over a decade, remarked, "You don’t know who you’re living next to anymore. You just never know. My children and grandchildren are grown up, but when they were younger I was telling them not to speak to anyone they didn’t know. I feel sorry for people who have young children. It must be hard for them." No one approached by The Courier on the busy road was previously aware of MacQueen or his crimes, highlighting the shock within the community.

The case underscores the long arm of the law in pursuing historical child sex offences, with MacQueen's conviction bringing closure to victims after years of delay. Police Scotland played a role in the investigation, though specifics were not revealed. This sentencing serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to hold perpetrators accountable for sexual exploitation of children.