A former senior Scottish lawyer was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh of five charges involving the sexual abuse of four children. The charges took place over a 14-year period and involved three young girls and a boy. 

Watt was extradited from the United States to stand trial. He was found guilty of rape, indecent assault and three charges of indecent conduct. The charges are historical and occurred between September 1973 and August 1987. Watt raped one girl under the age of 12 at a house in Edinburgh. He abused two girls whilst they were in their bed. He subjected a 10-year-old boy to sexual abuse at an address in Leith. 

In sentencing Watt, Lord Braid stated:  The offences committed by you were of the utmost seriousness and depravity and were part of a course of conduct spanning more than 10 years. The offences are aggravated by involving an abuse of trust, and in the case of at least charges 1 and 2, some degree of planning. In each case, the offences have had a profound and lifelong effect on the victims. The principal sentencing aims in this case are punishment and deterrence.”

He continued: “In your role as advocate depute (Crown Office prosecutor) you prosecuted the very type of offence of which you have now been convicted.”

Donald Findlay QC defending told the court that Watt would be appealing the conviction and that he maintained his innocence. He told the court that Watt “in common with any decent individual deplores the type of conduct that is referred to in these charges”.

In mitigation Mr Findlay stated: “He is a first offender. He is still one of Her Majesty’s counsel in Scotland.”

The headline sentence imposed was one of 11 years’ imprisonment. However, due to his period spent on remand the sentence was reduced to 10 years imprisonment.  He was also placed on the sex offenders register for an indeterminate period.