Member of cult with operations in Ayrshire, Derek Lincoln, admits sexual abuse of children

Cumnock Chronicle, UK/July 14, 2020

By Gianni Marini

A former member of a sick religious cult that had a base in Ayrshire has plead guilty to raping and sexually assaulting two young children.

Derek Lincoln, 74, admitted to the perverted crimes yesterday at Glasgow High Court.

The pensioner was extradited from France in 2019 on a European Arrest Warrant for his involvement in the ‘Children of God’ religious cult.

The warped paedophile cult began in the USA in the late 1960s, and operated at sites in Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, Lanarkshire, and Edinburgh.

It was alleged Lincoln was responsible for the rape and sexual assaults on a number of female children.

Yesterday, he pleaded guilty to the vile sex attacks on two young female children aged between 9 and 11 between the years of 1989 and 1991.

Lincoln is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Detective Sergeant Neil Wilson from Police Scotland’s Specialist Crime Division National Rape Task Force said: “The arrest of Derek Lincoln followed a five year complex investigation involving partnership working both nationally and internationally.

“My thoughts continue to remain with the victims and those impacted by Lincoln’s actions over many years. Thanks to the bravery of them coming forward and reporting to us, he will now face the consequences of his actions.

"We remain committed to bringing sexual offenders before the courts and treat all reports of sexual crime with the utmost seriousness. Anyone wishing to report such offences should do so to Police Scotland via 101."

The first man to be convicted of sexual abuse linked to the 'Children of God' cult in Scotland was Alexander Watt, of Maybole.

The 68-year-old Watt, who was sentenced in 2018, abused two children in the central belt in Scotland in the 1980s and admitted his guilt over the abuse.

At Paisley Sheriff Court in 2017, the Maybole man, who lived in Lyon Cottage at the time, was spared jail for what he described as “a horrible catalogue” of sexual and physical abuse of children.

Two of Watt's children, who were victims of his abuse, spoke out about the cult last year.

Jonathan Watt and Verity Carter told the BBC they were frequently moved to different properties where "communes" had been set up.

They said these were often parts of the Scottish countryside with nothing for miles around and they were deliberately never told of their exact location.

The remnants of the group continue to have a presence online, now known as The Family International.

An NSPCC Scotland spokesperson said: “Cases such as this show that, however much time has passed, victims of child sexual abuse will be listened to when they speak out, crimes will be investigated and justice can be achieved.

“The impact of such abuse can be profound and long-lasting and it crucial that victims receive all the support they need to help them recover.”

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