A TEENAGE girl who says she was abused by a child rapist from Helensburgh has told the Advertiser she feels let down by the justice system – and says he could have been stopped if she had been listened to.

The now 16-year-old claims she was attacked by William Rigby when she was aged just nine.

Rigby, 53, pleaded guilty last month to a series of horrific sexual abuse charges against children between 2006 and 2018 – including one in which he admitted videoing himself raping a five-year-old girl while babysitting her last October.

But the teenager, who spoke on condition of anonymity but with the approval of her parents, said that while Rigby had admitted the charges against the other children, the Crown accepted his plea of not guilty to an accusation of abusing her in 2012.

“He could have been stopped,” she said. “But nobody listened to me.”

Rigby was charged with sexually abusing the girl at an address in Buchanan Road in Helensburgh on a single date between June 29 and August 15, 2012. His not guilty plea was accepted by the Crown.

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Describing Rigby as “a close friend” to her family before the alleged incident, the teen claimed she was abused on a single occasion while staying overnight with a friend in the same house as Rigby.

“I started shaking,” she said, “but I was scared in case he noticed.

“I could feel the tears running down my face. I didn’t know what to do. Then a dog started barking, and that’s all I can remember.

“The next day I went home and told my mum and dad what had happened.

“They were going to phone the police but I begged them not to say anything. They promised they wouldn’t.

“I was never allowed to go near Willie after that.”

The girl said she opened up to a teacher a year later following a talk at her school about child abuse, and that the police were then contacted.

But prosecutors decided not to raise proceedings against Rigby, who was then aged 47.

“I felt like I’d been flung in the bin and nothing else was ever said about it,” she said.

The teen said she and her family had been forced to move away from Helensburgh after rumours began to circulate in the area about what had happened.

“I couldn’t take it living there any more,” she said.

“Willie walked about with his head high because he knew nobody believed me. He knew he had so much control over me.

“Because nothing had happened to Willie they all called me a liar. There were always arguments, fighting, and targeting of me and my family.”

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The girl told how after years of silence, she was contacted again a few months ago after further allegations against Rigby came to light.

“I got told Willie had done something to another wee girl,” she said.

“I was asked if I would go up in court and give a statement. I hadn’t heard anything from the police after they came to speak to me.

“After he went to court, my dad phoned the PF [procurator fiscal] to make sure that he had pleaded guilty to the charge against me."

The girl said that while she was glad to know Rigby is facing a long spell behind bars for his vile behaviour, she felt forgotten about by the justice system – for a second time.

“Other victims and their families are getting justice,” she said, “but I’ve had to wait for seven years, and I still don’t have justice.

“They’ve forgotten all about me. I wanted to know he was getting put away for it as well, but he’s not.

“I just felt like what happened seven years ago was all happening all over again. It’s good to know he’s not going to be able to hurt anybody else, but it feels like he’s walked free for what he did to me.

“I’m still hurt to know he’s not being put away because of me but it’s good to know he’s not going to be able to hurt anybody else.

“I’m not discarding the fact of what he’s done to those other girls. I’m glad he’s in jail but I’ve had to go through it all over again after moving on with my life.”

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A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “In 2013 a 47-year-old man was arrested and was the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal.

“He was released on an undertaking to appear in court at a later date.”

A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said they were unable to comment until after Rigby is sentenced in June.

An NSPCC Scotland spokesperson said: “The NSPCC’s Speak Out Stay Safe programme visits hundreds of primary schools every year across Scotland, speaking to thousands of children and helping them develop an understanding of abuse in all its forms.

“We also tell them how to get help by speaking to Childline or a trusted adult.

“Survivors of abuse need to know they will be listened to and helped when they choose to speak out. It is never too late to report abuse and the NSPCC’s Helpline exists to provide advice and support.”

Any adult concerned about the welfare of a child or young person can call the NSPCC helpline for free on 0808 800 5000. Children can call Childline at any time on 0800 1111.