A former police officer who sexually assaulted two children – including one in a patrol car while on duty – has been jailed for 18 months.
Norman Harvey used his position as a Grampian Police officer to carry out the abuse and silence his female victims, Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told.
But the two girls would not be silenced forever, and now the ex-sergeant has been found guilty of three charges following a three-day trial.
A jury found the 73-year-old, who served with Grampian Police for three decades, guilty by majority of three charges of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices and behaviour towards the children on dates in the 1970s and 80s.
Harvey touched one girl, aged between 12 and 15, sexually over her clothing at an address in Aberdeen.
He also attempted to touch the same girl’s breasts over her clothing when she was still under 16.
Abuse carried out while he was on duty
His second victim was aged just 8 or 9 when he touched her private parts while on duty in a marked police vehicle in or near Aberdeen.
Harvey – who was a sergeant with the accident investigation unit based at Nelson Street in Aberdeen – did not react as the guilty verdicts were delivered, but Sheriff Ian Wallace warned the pensioner this was a “particularly serious” charge.
He added: “It was clear you used your position as a police officer to carry out the abuse and ensure the silence of your victim.”
Fiscal depute Lucy Simpson told the court Harvey is already serving a three-year prison sentence for similar offences in England.
Harvey – who is originally from Sunderland – joined Grampian Police in 1978 having previously served six years with the Northumbria Constabulary.
While at Grampian Police he also served on the committee of the force’s fundraising group, The Diced Cap Appeal.
Defence counsel David Moggach said his client is married and, although his address is given in court papers as Rhindale Crescent, Glasgow, is serving his current sentence at an English prison.
The lawyer suggested the crimes could have been prosecuted at a lower level, but added: “Perhaps the Crown would say him being a police officer at the time is what makes it more serious.”
Mr Moggach said: “I don’t think there’s much more I can say by way of mitigation.”
Sheriff Wallace said: “It’s clear that the only appropriate disposal here is a custodial sentence.”
He ordered Harvey to be jailed for a total of 18 months, consecutive to his current sentence.
He also made him subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offence Act.
As he left court handcuffed to a security guard, the sex offender cowered underneath a jacket in a bid to hide his face from the Press & Journal’s cameras.
Following the case, Detective Inspector Anna Johnston, of the national child abuse investigation unit, said: “I would like to thank each victim for having the strength and bravery to come forward to report the abuse they suffered at the hands of Harvey.
“The information they provided, regardless of the passage of time, allowed us to carry out an extensive investigation resulting in Harvey being brought to justice.
“We will always investigate crimes of this nature, no matter when it happened and have specially trained officers to provide support to victims.
“I would urge anyone who wishes to report sexual crime, regardless of when it happened, to contact us so we can conduct a thorough and professional investigation.”
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