By Grâçia Ada Obi
A sick Scots scout master who raped and molested young boys has died behind bars.
William Quigg, originally from Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, died in custody at HMP Dumfries on November 11 aged 83, the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) confirmed. The beast was caged in 2019 after being found guilty of abusing one boy and raping another when they were just 12 and 13.
Quigg was convicted of abusing the children over 30 years ago during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow. He was jailed for 10 years.
The court heard how depraved Quigg forced himself on one boy in the shower and repeatedly abused the other. One victim, aged 48 at the time of the trial, told how he was raped in a shower room by the fiend.
He said: “He was a voracious predatory paedophile and made my life hell. This man was clearly beyond cruel. He knew I was very vulnerable and targeted me because of that. He knew there was nothing I could do.”
Quigg raped his victim after the boy complained about being constipated. He denied raping the child but admitted sexually abusing another.
However, the jury did not believe him and convicted him of all the abuse. The boy who was raped told the court how he tried to fight Quigg off, but was told “Shut up, don’t say anything,”
The victim said: “I just couldn’t believe what had happened. I was just astounded. I have complex post-traumatic stress.”
Quigg bullied his victims into silence – threatening to lie about them and brand them as troublemakers if they exposed his offending after it started in 1980. He was first reported to police in 2009 – but nothing was done to bring him to justice.
He rose to the rank of Scout Commissioner within the movement, where he helped direct groups around the west of Scotland. During his spell as scout master, the beast had access to thousands of children.
At the time of sentencing, Judge Lord Burns slammed the beast for stealing the youngsters’ childhoods.
He told the paedophile: “The abuse you perpetrated on these boys for the seven years it went on was of the most grave kind. I can’t ignore the serious breach of trust that these offences represent.
“You exploited them for your own sexual purpose. I’ve decided that the only sentence I can impose is a custodial one of 10 years in prison.”
A Fatal Accident Inquiry into Quigg’s custody death will be held in due course.
A spokesperson for SPS said: “Every death, whether in prison custody or in our communities, is a tragedy for all those who knew and supported the individual. Following the death of someone in our care, Police Scotland are advised, and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.”
