Abuser leaves legacy to Girl Guides

The BBC reports how a former society photographer convicted of sexually abusing young girls has left more than £400,000 in his will to the Girl Guides. The man had been gaoled for eight years at the High Court in Edinburgh in 1999. He died in 2009 and in his will he left a legacy to the Girl Guides.

Obviously there is an issue as to whether the Girl Guides should accept this legacy, but clearly the money can be put to some good use.

In England and Wales, the victims of such a man might well have a claim against his estate or even against him whilst he was alive. Cases such as A v Hoare 2008 have very much opened the way for survivors of abuse to sue their abusers, particularly following a conviction in a criminal court. However the position on limitation in Scotland is thought to be different, and the courts have been less generous to those who have brought claims out of time.