Detective praises 'brave' victims of rapist athletics coach who struck in Edinburgh and Fife

Behind bars: Rapist athletics coach Eric Simpson

An athletics coach who played the pop hit "Young Girl" to teenagers who he subjected to sexual abuse has been jailed.

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Eric Simpson, 73, was brought to justice after one of his child victims, now a woman in her fifties, saw a photograph which featured him still in his coaching role posing with a young girl. The woman wanted to protect others and bravely agreed to speak to detectives in December 2018.

Officers worked through statements and contacted various people who had been coached by Simpson in a career that spanned from the 1970’s until his suspension in 2018. His abuse started with massages that became sexually inappropriate. The youngest victim was only 13-years-old. Simpson targeted the girls in Burntisland and Kirkcaldy – but his last victim was abused by him at a school in Edinburgh.

Five women agreed to give statements to police and Simpson was arrested and charged in May 2019.

During a five day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh a jury heard that Simpson had raped one girl and subjected four other victims to indecent assaults and lewd behaviour during a catalogue of offending. He denied any guilt but was convicted of seven charges.

A judge told the former teacher that he was convicted of a series of extremely serious sexual offences committed against children and young females over many years.

Lord Arthurson said: "In due course, you can expect to receive from the court a very substantial sentence of imprisonment."

Simpson, of Kirkcaldy, had been on bail during his trial but was remanded in custody for the preparation of a background report ahead of sentencing next month.

Advocate depute Shanti Maguire told the court: "The accused has dedicated his life to athletics and until recently was an athletics coach." Simpson was suspended as a coach after allegations against him surfaced.

One woman told the court that Simpson had played the Gary Puckett and the Union Gap hit "Young Girl" for her and told her it was her special song.

The 44-year-old said that if she now heard the song as an adult it was "horrible". "I can't even listen to it," she said.

She said that as a 13-year-old she became uncomfortable when the coach made reference to sexual matters, including positions.

He went on to massage her with baby oil after telling her to undress, but his fingers began going near her private parts. She said: "I was frozen. I was too scared to do anything."

Another woman told the court that she heard Simpson saying it was very difficult working with young girls when they all fancied him.

She was also molested by him during massages and he went on to subject her to rape.