Court delays denied a 15-year-old girl justice over the prosecution of her sexually abusive grandfather, her mother has claimed.
The Dundee woman said the death of her father-in-law means he will never come to court to answer allegations of sexual assault against her teenage daughter.
The pensioner was accused of abusing his granddaughter during a trip to Reekie Linn falls in Angus in May. None of those involved in the case can be named for legal reasons.
The man spent several months going through the court system but solicitors claimed he could not enter a plea or stand trial due to increasingly poor health.
The woman has slammed the legal process amid her claims that he was “driving and socialising” until shortly before his death.
She said: “The only thing she’s got out of this is that he’s dead now.
“All she wanted was for someone to say he’s guilty but she said to me she didn’t want him to suffer as he was already dying.”
The girl in her teens has been left with “deep emotional scars” following the alleged attack.
The mother added: “He knew full well what he did, admitted his guilt when he did it and the court played into his hands.
“He expressed no remorse at all.”
The pair had gone to the beauty spot near Alyth on the border of Angus and Perthshire.
The woman said they always went to “secluded places” to spend time together.
“He said at one point: ‘I hope you’re not going to tell anyone what I’m going to do to you’,” she said.
“He had a terminal illness when he sexually assaulted her but he was out driving and socialising all that time.
The man was charged with sexually assaulting the girl, putting his arm around her shoulders and stroking her neck, kissing her on the cheek, repeatedly kissing her on the mouth and placing his hand on her leg and squeezing her knee, and touching her upper thigh.
Several appearances had been set at Forfar Sheriff Court, with continued difficulties recorded in obtaining a medical certificate that would state the man was unable to plead.
His solicitor had said the pensioner indicated guilt before proceedings took place.
During one of the accused’s non-appearances, the girl’s family were asked to give evidence.
“We were asked to come to court for her to give evidence in open court, in front of half of Angus,” the mother said.
“It’s hard enough for her to deal with what she’s had to go through, already. She is not the same person now as she was.”