Edinburgh paedophile who spiked baby's bottle with vodka before abuse jailed for 12 years

A paedophile who spiked a baby's bottle with vodka before molesting her has been jailed for 12 years.

Ian Whyte, 62, preyed on six children during a campaign of sexual abuse spanning 20 years in Edinburgh.

Judge Thomas Welsh KC told Whyte: "You targeted and abused vulnerable children and teenagers. Your conduct was evil, calculating and pernicious.

"You have stated that the complainers were lying and conspired against you for financial reasons.

"You have, in short, shown no remorse or empathy for the terrible harm you have caused."

Whyte was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday after earlier being found guilty of nine offences.

His abuse took place between December 1978 and May 1998.

Whyte first struck when he was a teenager and subjected a much younger boy to sexual abuse on two occasions between December 1978 and December 1982.

Whyte then targeted the baby girl who was under a year old, raped a nine or 10-year-old girl, and indecently assaulted and tried to rape an 11 or 12-year-old girl in the period between September 1982 and September 1983.

He also provided a 13 or 14-year-old girl with solvents and attempted to rape her on an occasion between May 1983 and May 1985.

Whyte then went on to repeatedly assault and rape a girl from the age of six on various occasions between 1995 and 1998.

The court heard that the paedophile, who attended court in a wheelchair, made some of his victims play a game of "mummies and daddies" as he abused them.

Advocate depute Ruaraidh Ferguson told jurors Whyte was "a serial abuser of children" and was observed putting vodka in the baby's bottle.

While giving evidence, Whyte said of the allegations: "It's lies. It's all lies."

Defence counsel Scot Dignan said his client continues to deny the offending but indicated he respected the decision of the jury.

The lawyer highlighted Whyte's physical health problems, stating: "He has concerns that the prison estate is ill-equipped to support his disability."

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Judge Welsh said he had read "detailed and devastating" victim impact statements provided to the court.

He also noted the criminal justice social work report prepared on Whyte, stating it was obvious the offender has no insight into the "deep and lasting harm" he has caused.

Whyte was handed an extended sentence of 12 years in jail and three years on licence once released back into the community.

He has also been placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and banned from contacting his victims.

Detective Inspector Steph Garnett said: "This was a complex investigation and our thoughts are with the victims.

"I hope the sentence helps them to come to terms with the abuse they suffered. Whyte will now face the consequences of his despicable actions."

(c) Sky News 2026: Edinburgh paedophile who spiked baby's bottle with vodka before abuse jailed for 12 years