Description
A "depraved" former prison officer who denied having a sexual attraction to children and instead insisted he abused two young girls for "a sense of danger and excitement" has been jailed for 13 years.
Russell Maitland, 37, admitted a number of offences, including raping and sexually abusing one girl and sexually assaulting a second.
A court heard the first victim was sexually assaulted between the ages of four and 12 and raped between the ages of seven and 11.
The second victim was sexually abused between the ages of four and six.
Judge Summers told Maitland: "The charges to which you have pled guilty include charges involving a horrific catalogue of sexual violence perpetrated against two girls."
The judge said he was concerned with the criminal justice social work report, which noted while Maitland accepted responsibility for the offences, he denied having a sexual attraction to children.
Judge Summers stated: "You suggest these offences were committed because of need for 'a sense of danger and excitement'. That is difficult to accept."
The judge noted that Maitland's abuse of the second girl continued despite the first victim having reported his behaviour to Police Scotland.
He stated Maitland's conduct was for his "own deviant sexual ends".
Judge Summers made reference to the victim impact statements, noting the girls "each struggle on a daily basis" due to Maitland's abuse.
The judge said: "In relation to each of these children your offending was persistent and pervasive.
"It was carried out on a number of occasions over a number of years.
"Your offending was calculated and it was predatory. It was almost unimaginably depraved. It is hard to comprehend the harm that this will have caused."
The offences took place in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, and in Aberdeen.
Maitland was handed a 16-year extended sentence at the High Court in Aberdeen on Tuesday, with 13 years in jail and three years on licence once released back into the community.
He was also added to the sex offenders' register indefinitely and was banned from contacting his victims.