A school bus driver who sexually abused two young boys in Perthshire and Tayside has been sentenced to six years behind bars for crimes committed more than two decades ago.
Dean Elliott preyed on his victims over a three-year period between 2002 and 2005, using his position of trust to gain access to children in his care. The abuse, which went unreported for years, finally caught up with Elliott after his victims came forward.
The case highlights how survivors of childhood sexual abuse often carry the weight of what happened to them for many years before finding the courage to report it to police. Both victims in this case were boys at the time of the offending, and Elliott exploited the trust placed in him as someone responsible for their safety on the school run.
The crimes took place across Perthshire and Tayside, areas where Elliott worked as a bus driver ferrying children to and from school. That role gave him regular, unsupervised contact with young people, which he went on to abuse in the most serious way.
Courts in Scotland have increasingly dealt with cases where historical child sexual abuse is brought to justice long after the original offending took place. Prosecutors and police have made it clear in recent years that there is no time limit on seeking justice for victims, and that historic cases will be pursued with the same determination as recent ones.
Elliott was handed a six-year custodial sentence following his conviction, reflecting the gravity of the offending and the lasting harm caused to his victims. He will also be placed on the sex offenders register.
For survivors of abuse, the journey to reporting what happened can take years or even decades. Support organisations across Scotland continue to encourage anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, no matter how long ago, to come forward and speak to police or a support service.