A Mormon Bishop accused of historic child abuse told one of his alleged victims: “I made a mess of it back then.”
Dennis Campbell and his wife Avril are on trial at Dundee Sheriff Court, accused of attacking and neglecting children at addresses around Dundee and Angus between 1976 and 1990.
The jury heard evidence on Wednesday from a second alleged victim, who said she was regularly beaten with a belt from a young age.
“They only wanted me to be a good Mormon,” the 52-year-old said.
Appearing via video link, she broke down in tears as she told how she was belted for “rolling eyes, telling lies and normal children things”.
“(Mr Campbell) was more effective,” she said. “(Mrs Campbell) would struggle to get a whip on it.”
She said Mr Campbell left a mark on her face when he assaulted her using his hands, and Mrs Campbell possibly broke her tail bone when she “pushed” her down a flight of stairs.
After one “frenzied, aggressive attack” she was left with a ripped T-shirt, she said.
“It came off my shoulder,” she said. “I felt exposed.”
The court heard that in 2018, she received an online message from Mr Campbell that read: “I made a mess of it back then. I hope the healing continues.”
‘Forced to eat bars of soap’
The witness also told how she helped get the Campbells’ fostered son into trouble, by making up stories about him.
She said she told the Campbells the boy wanted to dress in women’s clothes.
When he denied this, he was called a liar and dressed up as a girl, she said.
She also told the couple their fostered son wanted to be outside naked.
Similarly, he was accused of lying and made to stand outside in the snow without any clothes, the jury heard.
The boy, now 52, gave evidence against the Campbells on day one of the trial.
He denied on Wednesday that he was a “fantasist” or was “motivated by money.”
The man said he was beaten and starved so much that he became “like a feral child” who would snatch scraps of food at any opportunity.
He said he was locked in his room for “two or three days” as a punishment, and made to eat full bars of soap for swearing or blaspheming.
Neil Beardmore QC, representing Mrs Campbell, said: “This is an example of a great exaggeration on your part.”
The witness responded: “I can tell you that I was made to eat bars of soap, while Avril was standing over me and making me do it.”
The trial heard the man left the household and moved into a care home in 1981.
He made a complaint to police about the Campbells in 1997.
“I can tell you that I was made to eat bars of soap, while Avril was standing over me and making me do it.”
— Victim of alleged abuse
The witness told how he had no contact with the Campbells for decades, until receiving a voicemail out of the blue from Mr Campbell around three years ago.
The recording was played to the jury, who heard Campbell say: “It’s many years since I’ve seen you.
“I wondered if there was a chance to meet up.
“I’m doing a lot of reflection in life and would like to have a wee chat with you and go over some things.
“I feel it would be helpful to you and helpful to me.”
The witness said he did agree to meet Mr Campbell.
Asked by Mr Beardmore if he had claimed damages in relation to issues that had arisen in the trial, he said: “I’ve got a civil action against Dundee City Council.”
Asked if he was motivated by money, he replied: “Not at all.”
The civil proceedings against the authority were raised in 2019, the court heard.
The charges
Dennis, 77, and Avril Campbell, 74, are accused of assaulting and neglecting children at addresses around Dundee and Angus between 1976 and 1990.
The couple, from Broughty Ferry, are accused of attacking a boy by seizing his hair and body, striking him on the head and body, and striking his naked buttocks with a belt between April 1976 – when he was six – and February 1981.
The Campbells, both of King Street, allegedly forced the boy to wear female clothes, denied him food, forced him to drink water until he vomited, denied him shelter, forced him to eat soap and forced him to sleep on a stone floor.
They are alleged to have forced him to stand against a wall for long periods, taunted and humiliated him, and made him bathe in excessively hot or cold water.
Avril Campbell is alleged to have forced the boy to suck her naked breast.
It is alleged that between April 1976 and September 1990, they assaulted a second child by kicking and striking her, throwing a bottle at her and striking her buttocks with a belt.
The same child was allegedly denied food, forced to eat soap and denied medical aid between 1978 – when she was eight – and 1985.
She was allegedly locked in a house, pushed until she fell downstairs and forced to bathe in excessively cold water.
Both accused deny all charges.
The trial, before Sheriff Paul Brown, continues.
