An inquiry is set to be conducted into the prison death of a detestable Scottish paedophile who was found guilty of abusing two children under his care.
Gordon Fraser, 79, received a seven-year sentence in October 2021 for historical sexual assaults on two young individuals. The criminal denied pulling down a boy’s trousers and underwear, fondling his genitals, and coercing him to engage in sexual acts between 1978 and 1980.
He also declared his innocence regarding two historic sexual offenses against a girl. However, a jury convicted him after a trial at Livingston High Court.
During the trial, the elderly man from Dundee presented himself in a mobility scooter within the courtroom and dismissed his legal team after being found guilty.
He compelled both of his victims to testify against him at his trial. Fraser, who was registered for life on the Sex Offenders Register, was found guilty of making the girl view pornographic material, taking or pretending to take photos of her, committing various sexual acts on her, and raping her at a location in Dundee.
He died in HMP Addiewell in West Lothian on Sunday, June 5, 2022, less than a year into his sentence. A Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) is now scheduled, with a preliminary hearing set for July 10 at Livingston High Court.
The aim of an FAI is to ascertain the cause of death, investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, and determine what, if any, reasonable measures could have been taken, and can be implemented in the future, to reduce the likelihood of similar deaths.
FAIs are designed to uncover facts rather than assign fault.
A representative from the Scottish Prison Service stated: “Gordon Fraser, 79, a prisoner at HMP Addiewell, passed away on June 5, 2022. He was sentenced at Livingston High Court in 2021.
“Police Scotland has been informed, and the case has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland also mentioned: “Around 4pm on Sunday, June 5, 2022, we were notified about the death of a 79-year-old male prisoner at HMP Addiewell, West Calder. His death is not being treated as suspicious, and a report has been forwarded to the Procurator Fiscal.”
