Jennifer and Steven Robertson were found guilty of a total of nine charges on 20 March 2026 following a trial.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Jennifer Robertson, now 79, abused four young children at her home in Murthly, Perthshire, between 1980 and 1995.
She subjected them to cruel and unnatural treatment, which included forcing some children to wear urine-soaked underwear on their heads and to sit in cold baths.
The Crown led evidence from the victims, who gave consistent accounts describing a pattern of offending behaviour by Jennifer Robertson.
She was found guilty of verbally and physically abusing three children, and of failing to take steps to prevent the assault and sexual abuse of another child by her son.
Steven Robertson, now 52, was found guilty of targeting girls who had been placed in his mother’s care at the family home.
The court heard that he sexually assaulted one child while acting with his now deceased father, Alan Robertson, in the 1980s and 1990s.
All the children were under the age of five when he began abusing them.
The mother and son were both sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on 17 April 2026.
Steven Robertson was jailed for 11 years with a further three-year sentence extension during which time he will be subject to close monitoring and supervision.
His name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Jennifer Robertson was given a Community Payback Order with conduct requirements and ordered to perform 250 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.
Non-harassment orders, banning both individuals from contacting or attempting to contact the victims, were also granted indefinitely.
Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said:
“Jennifer Robertson had a clear duty to protect the young people in in her care and to keep them safe as an approved foster carer.
“Instead, she caused profound harm through sustained cruelty and abuse, including enabling others to sexually abuse the children.
“Steven Robertson’s predatory behaviour went unchecked, allowing him to systematically abuse and rape these young girls over a number of years.
“Their actions have had lifelong consequences for those affected, and I am grateful to the survivors for the courage they have shown throughout the prosecution process.
“The Crown treats all allegations of child abuse with the utmost seriousness. No matter how much time has passed, we remain committed to ensuring survivors are heard and that those responsible are held to account.”