'Blood on their hands': Relative of girl killed and sexually assaulted by brother slams social services

27 July 2023, 06:41 | Updated: 27 July 2023, 06:43

Connor Gibson's father (not pictured) was jailed for rape
Connor Gibson's father (not pictured) was jailed for rape. Picture: Facebook/Police

By Kit Heren

A relative of a 16-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted and murdered by her brother have hit out at the social services, claiming that they have "her blood on their hands".

Connor Gibson, 20, attacked his teenage sister Amber in woodland in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, on November 26 2021 - strangling and sexually assaulting her with the intention of raping her.

Gibson denied the attack but was found guilty on Tuesday after a jury found him guilty on a combination of CCTV and DNA evidence, including his bloodstained jacket.

The brother and sister were moved out of their family home as young children after their father was persistently violent with their mother.

They were placed into a foster home, but this didn't work out and Amber moved into care, while Connor remained with the foster family.

A family member said that the local council's social services team had blocked their grandparents' efforts to have the Gibson children stay with them.

"The social work department has blood on its hands," a relative said.

"Ambers’ grandparents, Mr and Mrs Adams, are lovely people and did their best for the children, but they needed more help from the authorities and didn’t get it," the unnamed family member told MailOnline.

"It put an enormous financial strain on the Adams, when they had the kids, but they were offered no help. The council seemed to prefer to spend hundreds and hundreds of pounds placing Amber and Connor with foster parents, rather than their own family."

South Lanarkshire Council's social work department said that the case was "truly" tragic and an independent investigation was taking place. A source with knowledge of the matter said that Amber and Connor's family had never applied for custody.

Read more: Chilling moment brother, 20, leads sister, 16, to woodland before sexually assaulting and strangling her

Read more: Knife killer seen in newly-released footage buying new blades to replace the ones he used to stab wife to death

Connor Gibson found guilty of the murder and sexual assault of his sister

It comes after it emerged that their father Peter Gibson, 62, was convicted of ten charges earlier this year that took place between June 2001 and February 2008, including rape.

Gibson tied his victim up and blindfolded her up. He also grabbed his victim by the neck, which restricted her breathing.

Other offences included the indecent assault of a young boy, punching and kicking him.

He was also found guilty of lewd and libidinous behaviour towards another boy, and physically assaulting him and threatening the child.

A judge ordered him to be supervised for a further three years on his release.

In his son's case, new footage released by police shows the younger Gibson walking his sister to her death, then walking back alone, after murdering her.

At one point in the chilling CCTV footage released by prosecutors, Gibson can be seen leaning against railings, apparently exhausted from the attack.

Tragic teen Amber was reported missing on Friday November 26 2021, and her body found in Cadzow Glen two days later.

Connor Gibson killed his sister Amber in woodland after trying to rape her
Connor Gibson killed his sister Amber in woodland after trying to rape her. Picture: Supplied

Connor Gibson was arrested on December 1.

The day before his arrest he posted on Facebook: “Amber, you will fly high for the rest of time. We will all miss you. Especially me. I love you ginger midget. GBFN (goodbye for now) X”

The killer and his victim walk together on the night she was murdered
The killer and his victim walk together on the night she was murdered. Picture: Crown Office

The court heard "widespread" blood staining was found on his jacket and that his DNA was found on her shorts and underwear, which had been "forcibly torn off".

Their foster father, Craig Niven said he tried not to leave them in each other’s company because they were "not a good mix".

Amber's body was found in woodland at Cadzow Glen two days after she was reported missing
Amber's body was found in woodland at Cadzow Glen two days after she was reported missing. Picture: Facebook

Also on trial was Stephen Corrigan, 45, who was found guilty of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by intimately touching and concealing Amber's body after discovering her at some point in the following two days, instead of contacting the emergency services.

Gibson leaning on railings after having killed his 16-year-old sister
Gibson leaning on railings after having killed his 16-year-old sister. Picture: Crown Office

He also denied the charges and had lodged a special defence of alibi.

Amber's body was found at Cadzow Glen on November 28, 2021.

Professor Soumen Sengupta, Director of Health and Social Care for South Lanarkshire, said: "This has been a truly tragic case, and our thoughts remain with all those who knew and loved Amber.

"There are established procedures in place for tragic events of this nature which are designed to ensure that events are fully understood and, if necessary, learned from.‘In this case, after Amber’s death the Care Inspectorate and the Chair of the Child Protection Committee (CPC) were informed. The CPC acted to establish an independent review under an extremely experienced independent expert in the field.

"They have already carried out most of the work involved and will now be able to conclude the review, including interviewing people who were witnesses in the criminal case.

"The results of the review will be delivered to the CPC once complete and then shared with the Public Protection Chief Officer Group. It is anticipated that the findings will be publicly reported in an appropriate format."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

William Howell was found dead in the Aria Casino Hotel in August 2023

Heartbroken family of British man 'left alone to die' in Las Vegas suing ambulance company and hotel where he died

Conor Maynard shared a health update after his fall

Singer Conor Maynard gives health update after being rushed to hospital on stretcher

Lisa Smith, 43, has been named by Kent Police as the victim of the shooting on Valentine's Day

Mother-of-two shot dead at pub on Valentines’ Day is named - as tributes paid to ‘wonderful mum’

Bafta winners

Conclave and The Brutalist win big at 2025 BAFTA awards - as absent Gascón nomination met with rousing applause

Jennifer Rauchet, Pete Hegest, US defence secretary, and Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Minister of Defence of Poland, during a welcoming ceremony in Warsaw, Poland, on February 14, 2025.

Ukraine is the 'frontline' of Britain, Starmer says as US begins peace talks with Russia

A fire that engulfed luxury hotel Chiltern Firehouse reportedly started in a pizza oven.

Fire that engulfed celebrity haunt Chiltern Firehouse 'started in pizza oven' of luxury hotel

Julie Buckley, 54, has not been seen since late January when she went missing from the village of Christchurch, Cambridgeshire.

Man charged with murder in 'no-body' case after woman goes missing in Cambridgeshire

Exclusive
Trump is ‘shaking up our region’, says Israel's president.

Donald Trump is 'shaking up our region', says Israel's president as he 'reveals US leader's strategy' in Middle East

Exclusive
Israel must 'square the circle to get hostages out' as Israeli President labels 500 day wait 'tormenting, aching and painful’.

Israel must 'square the circle to get hostages out' says President, labelling 500 day wait 'tormenting, aching and painful’

A teacher who was knocked down by a group of kids playing playground game British Bulldog says she was left with a severe leg injury that left her out of work for months.

Summer camp teacher claiming £300k in damages after group of kids knock her down in famous playground game

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Saudi Arabia for peace talks with Russia as the war in Ukraine rages on.

US-Russia peace talks for Ukraine begin as Europe blocked out of Saudi Arabia meeting

Harry received a standing ovation at the closing ceremony.

Meghan's four-word response as Prince Harry receives standing ovation in emotional Invictus Games closing ceremony

Exclusive
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (far right) visits the Tapa NATO forward operating base in Estonia.

Starmer should send 'warships, combat brigade, and air squadrons' to Ukraine, says ex-armed forces minister

Millions of jobs at risk as UK firms mull biggest layoffs in close to a decade amid plunging business confidence

Millions of jobs at risk as UK firms mull 'biggest layoffs in a decade' amid plunging business confidence

Wes Streeting says campaign to free Lucy Letby is 'not right'

'This isn't a political campaign, it's a legal process': Wes Streeting says campaign to free Lucy Letby is 'not right'

Exclusive
West Streeting, left, has back Sir Keir Starmer after the Prime Minister said he was ready to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine.

Peace in Ukraine 'vital for Britain's freedom', says Streeting as he backs PM's calls for troops on the ground