Shirley Freeman

Shirley Freeman, 51, has been found guilty of subjecting three children to violence, torture, and degrading treatment in Aberdeen, UK. The charges relate to incidents that occurred more than two decades ago at addresses in Balloch and Aberdeen, where Freeman and Julia Stephen, 68, were accused of operating a "house of terrors".

Key Facts and Charges:

• Shirley Freeman, identified as the mother of the child victims, was convicted of three charges. These included depriving the children of food, leaving them undressed on a cold veranda, and repeatedly striking them with a belt and belt buckle.
• The victims, now adults, described feeling "terrified" under Freeman's care, with one stating that going days without food "seemed normal".
• The case, referenced as SCS/2024-096918, was heard at Aberdeen Sheriff Court - Mer 2.

Court Appearances and Decisions:

• Public court record proceedings for Shirley Rose Freeman were listed with hearing dates on June 17, 19, 22, 23, and 24, 2026, at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
• On June 29, 2026, a jury returned guilty verdicts by a majority on all charges against Shirley Freeman and Julia Stephen after just under six hours of deliberation.
• Both Freeman and Stephen had denied the charges against them during the trial.