Latest Offenders Edinburgh

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A 70-year-old man has been given an Order of Lifelong Restriction (OLR) and a custodial sentence of seven years after being convicted of non-recent sexual offences.

Russell Pender’s crimes took place at various locations in Edinburgh, Midlothian and Fife between 1972 and 2021.

He was found guilty of a number of serious sexual offences, including the rape of a child, and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow in December 2025.

The OLR means the parole board will only consider a date for Pender’s release once he has served his full sentence and his risk to the public has been assessed. He would also be subject to conditions and monitoring for the rest of his life.

Detective Inspector Keith Taylor said:

“Pender is a dangerous sexual predator who preyed on people in the most horrific way. 

“I only hope they take some comfort from knowing their abuser is now behind bars and facing the consequences of his despicable actions.

“I know how difficult it can be to report crimes of this nature and would like to commend the victims for their honesty and strength during the investigation. Their information was vital in helping us build our case against Pender.

“Police Scotland is committed to fully investigating all reports of sexual crime - no matter who the perpetrator is or how much time has passed.

“I would urge anyone who has experienced any form of abuse to please contact us. We have specially trained support officers and work closely with partner agencies to ensure those responsible are held accountable and brought to justice.” 

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A man who sexually assaulted two women on the same train a week apart from one another has been jailed, following a British Transport Police (BTP) investigation.

Mohammed Mirzai, 24, and of no fixed address, was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment at Falkirk Sheriff Court on Thursday 9 April 2026 having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Assault at an earlier hearing.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years and pay a victim surcharge. 

The court heard how on Friday 14 March 2025 Mirzai boarded a 9.45pm Scotrail service from Glasgow to Edinburgh and chose to sit next to a woman despite other seats being available.

He proceeded to sexually assault the woman who challenged his actions. He then left the train at Falkirk High railway station, though members of the public that had witnessed the incident had taken a photo of him.

The woman contacted British Transport Police by texting 61016, sharing the photo that had been taken of Mirzai. 

As detectives worked to identify Mirzai and track him down, another woman contacted BTP to report that he had also sexually assaulted her on the same train on Saturday 22 March, just over a week later.

He was located and arrested on Thursday 17 July before being taken to police custody for questioning.

Detective Constable Liam Deasley said:

"Mirzai is a dangerous predator who targeted lone women in a routine manner, clearly finding a route that he felt comfortable and safe sexually assaulting women on.

"There is absolutely no place for this kind of behaviour, and I commend the bravery of the victims for coming forward and supporting the investigation so that we could put Mirzai behind bars.

"If you've been the victim of a sexual assault or witness one taking place, please report it to us by texting 61016 so that we can take action and secure justice. We take every report seriously, and will stop at nothing to put sexual offenders behind bars."

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Iain Wares, 86, a former teacher accused of historical sex abuse by scores of former pupils at Edinburgh Academy and Fettes College — including BBC presenter Nicky Campbell — has been found guilty in South Africa of indecently assaulting a former pupil.

Wares taught in Scotland in the 1960s and 1970s and now lives in Cape Town, where the high court ruled in 2024 he could be extradited. The process was delayed after Scottish authorities added further charges.

In a separate case, a Cape Town court convicted him of indecent assault against a student over alleged sexual abuse in the 1980s. Sentencing has been postponed until 13 May.

Scottish prosecutors first requested his extradition in 2018, leading to his arrest the following year. He was arrested again last October under a UK warrant and released on bail, with a hearing scheduled for 16 April. The additional charges include 60 counts of sexual assault, four of rape and 25 of assault.

Wares denies the charges and has fought against extradition.

Description

A 45-year-old Italian man, Nicola Cristiano, has been sentenced to six years in prison for attempting to rape a woman on an EasyJet flight from Naples to Edinburgh on May 13, 2025.

During the late-evening flight, the father-of-two moved seats to sit next to the victim, who was traveling alone. He repeatedly grabbed her hand and neck to force her to touch his exposed crotch, with semen later found on her cheek and lip. He also tried to kiss her and touch her breast and body.

After he moved elsewhere on the plane, the woman alerted cabin crew, leading to his arrest upon landing at Edinburgh Airport.

Cristiano was convicted of attempted rape following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

At sentencing on Friday, Judge Alison Stirling referenced the victim's impact statement, telling Cristiano: “The complainer says the assault has left a lasting effect on her sense of safety and control.

“She doesn’t feel comfortable flying and travelling alone any more.

“She had planned another holiday this year but she doesn’t want to go on it any more.”

The judge added: “The fact that it happened in a public setting surrounded by other people, even though she felt completely alone at the time, has been especially damaging for her.

“She thinks this will always have a lasting effect on her.”

Stirling noted from a criminal justice social work report that Cristiano had not accepted the guilty verdict, stating: “Custody is the only appropriate sentence with regard to the serious nature of the offending.

“The reasons for the sentence include punishment, expressing society’s concerns about and disapproval of your offending, protection of the public, and rehabilitation in custody.”

She ordered his deportation to Italy after serving the sentence and imposed indefinite notification requirements.

Cristiano, dressed in a black and gold bomber jacket and blue jeans, showed no reaction as he followed proceedings via an Italian interpreter.

Defense lawyer Jim Stephenson said his client accepted the victim “did say ‘no’ on a number of occasions, and (that) he did take her hand and place it on his penis,” but maintained innocence on the most serious parts of the charge.

Following the conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Steph Garnett of Police Scotland’s public protection unit said:

“Cristiano will now face the consequences of his despicable actions and I hope this brings comfort to his victim.

“He deliberately approached a woman travelling alone on a flight and sexually assaulted her.

“Fortunately she had an opportunity to alert a member of the cabin crew and she was taken to another part of the plane where she was safe.

“I also hope this conviction gives confidence to anyone who is the victim of sexual crime to come forward.”

Description

A serial sex offender jailed for life for a savage attack on a university lecturer is back behind bars after changing his name to deceive women into relationships.

Brian Travers received a life sentence and indefinite placement on the sex offenders register for the 2002 assault on the woman in her Edinburgh home. Register conditions required him to notify authorities of name or address changes and bank account details.

Released in 2022, Travers violated these by using the alias "David Quinn" to form romantic relationships with two unsuspecting women. One discovered his true identity via a letter addressed to Brian Travers in his flat; after Googling, she learned of his crimes. Having allowed him time with her young daughter and use of her phone during their six-month relationship, she reported him to police.

Travers, now 52, and accomplice Paul Gargaro were convicted for forcing entry into the lecturer's home, subjecting her to indecent assault, forcing her to reveal her bank PIN, and stealing credit cards, cash, jewelry, and a phone. Travers was identified by DNA after licking her ear while she was bound, blindfolded, and threatened with rape.

Judge Lord Phillip sentenced them to life, calling Travers "a cruel and calculating criminal" and "a danger to women" at the High Court in Edinburgh in July 2002.

Travers also served seven years for punching and undressing a 20-year-old American student in an Edinburgh park in 1997. Two days earlier, he robbed a mother walking with her baby near the Water of Leith, stealing her handbag with bank cards and money.

On January 22 at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Travers pleaded guilty to failing to notify authorities of his name change between November 1, 2022, and August 10, 2024, and possessing two unreported bank cards and accounts from June 12, 2022, to August 10, 2024.

Fiscal depute Morgan Beattie noted Travers was on the register for life due to his 1997 and 2002 indecent assaults, and used "David Quinn" or "Quinny" in the relationships post-release.

Defense lawyer Nicola Haston said he failed to inform police due to "laziness" and was recalled on license.

Sheriff Watson stated: "These charges cover a period of 21 months where you used an alias and two years where you used bank accounts you did not register. I was told it was laziness, but it was not lazy to change your name and it was not lazy not to report that. No doubt distress was caused to those who discovered you had conducted yourself under a false name and were unaware of your offending."

Travers received an 18-month sentence, backdated to November 18 of the previous year.

In July 2016, Travers escaped Castle Huntly jail near Dundee during home leave, after bragging about meeting sex workers. Recalled and facing downgraded privileges, he absconded for four days before being found drunk in an Edinburgh pub. He broke his arm during arrest and was sentenced to 16 more months at Perth Sheriff Court in September 2016 for the escape.

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A rapist who abused four young girls has been jailed for 12 years and nine months after being confronted by vigilantes at his home.

Brian Stobie, 70, was convicted of offenses against the girls—one under 16 and three under 12—in Edinburgh between 1990 and 2007.

The former bus driver was caught in a 2022 vigilante sting while attempting to contact underage girls online, but he communicated with adults instead.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Alison Stirling sentenced Stobie for the "serious nature of your offending."

Stobie, of Duke Street in Leith, denied eight charges of abuse but was convicted after testimony revealed he made victims sit on his knee, molested them during flat visits, exposed himself, and raped one.

Prosecutor Martin Crawford said: "These were experiences that happened when they were children, in circumstances which were outwith their control."

The court heard one victim struggles with trust, intimate relationships, and avoids the abuser's area.

Defense counsel Andrew Crosbie noted Stobie was targeted in an online "sting" for seeking naked pictures from young girls, leading to a live-streamed confrontation at his home in August 2022.

Stobie admitted four charges of attempting indecent communication with underage girls.

Mr. Crosbie said: "He accepts that he has been convicted of offences of real gravity."

Stobie was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and given a non-harassment order barring contact with his victims.

Description

Innocent Megbolu, 37, was jailed for five years for forcibly raping a woman in her Leith flat on August 21, 2023, despite her struggles and protests, after she had asked him to leave.

Megbolu, formerly of Seacole Square, Craigmillar, Edinburgh, was also subjected to an indefinite non-harassment order barring contact with the victim.

Judge Alistair Watson at the High Court in Edinburgh told him: "The degree of harm caused by you in committing this crime must be considered as particularly high." He noted: "Her evidence was she was crying and shouting and yet you continued with your conduct," adding that the offence occurred in her home where she should feel safe.

Megbolu denied the rape but was convicted by a jury.

An acquaintance testified: "She told me that he flipped her over - like a wrestling move." The victim appeared shaking, tired, and in shock afterward.

Another woman received a call from the victim, who said: "She said she had been raped."

Defence counsel Jonathan Campbell said Megbolu, a married father-of-two with a Nigerian university degree and prior work in the care sector, understood a custodial sentence was "inevitable" as a first offender. His "principal concern is for his family and the impact the conviction will have on them," and deportation is "highly likely" post-sentence.

Megbolu was placed indefinitely on the sex offenders' register.

Description

A celebrity baker who crafted cakes for Hollywood stars and royalty faces jail after being caught in a Scottish police pedophile sting.

David Duncan, 41, responded to an online ad for female escorts but was informed the girls were 14 and 15 years old. Unbeknownst to him, he was communicating with an undercover officer in Operation Overview, a 2022 initiative that has arrested dozens of high-harm threats to children.

The married father of two, who employs nine at his cake business, designed a 10-tiered wedding cake featured at the UK premiere of "You're Cordially Invited" alongside Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell. He also created replica cakes of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, and was photographed with the late Queen and then-Prince Charles.

Duncan traveled to Motherwell, Lanarkshire, where police confronted him. He claimed no intent for sexual activity and planned to expose the operation.

At Hamilton Sheriff Court, he denied wrongdoing but was convicted by jury of attempting to obtain sexual services from a child under 18. Duncan admitted to regular escort use due to lack of intimacy with his wife, telling jurors: "I know the moral situation and how this all looks and the fact that I'm a married man with two kids and I know its awful.

"We've been together for a long time and we are best of friends but when it comes to that side of things then it's not there but if the person I had met had been above legal age then it wouldn't have mattered."

He added: "My worry was that these girls had potentially been trafficked and I had to get the address.

"I came across this as if it was real, I thought it was a real situation."

A phone search revealed a note: "I'm going to meet a blonde 15-year-old. I will not take part in any sexual services but will give them the money as if I'm playing along. I will say ill and then leave and then report the address to the police."

Depute fiscal Rebecca Clark told jurors:

"He wants you to believe that he is some modern day hero who is far better than the police and that only he could save those children.

"David Duncan clearly thinks he is a very clever man and that by taking 60 seconds to write a note on his phone is all that it would take to convince the police, me and all of you that he was not trying to buy a child but I was not buying his story, the question is are you?"

Defense counsel Kieran Clegg said: "It is a serious offence and custody will be at the forefront of the court's mind."

Sheriff Louise Gallacher deferred sentencing on first-time offender Duncan until November for reports, continued bail, and placed him on the sex offenders' register.

Description

Brian Thomson was convicted of three charges on 20 August 2025 following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. 

The Crown led evidence which showed Thomson, 67, began sexually offending when he was 12-years-old in 1970.  

Over the next seven years, he repeatedly assaulted and raped a young girl to her injury at locations in the East Lothian area.  

Thomson was also found guilty of sexually abusing a woman in the 1980s and 1990s, including raping her at a hospital in Edinburgh. 

On 16 September 2025, at the same court, Thomson was sentenced to 11 years in custody. 

His name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely and indefinite non-harassment orders were also granted.  

Fiona Kirkby, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said:  

“Brian Thomson has now been held accountable and will face the consequences of his despicable behaviour, which took place several decades ago.  

“Despite this, we were able to build a strong case which demonstrated his guilt and the lasting emotional trauma he caused his victims. 

“I would like to thank them for reporting these devastating crimes. This prosecution would not have been possible without them.  

“This conviction should send a clear message to those who seek to sexually abuse others. COPFS will continue to pursue justice and prosecute sexual offenders – regardless of when the offending took place. 

“To anyone affected by similar crime: you are not alone. Please consider reporting your experience to the police when you feel ready and able. 

“You will be listened to and supported by our trauma-informed staff as we seek to use all the tools available to us prosecute those responsible.”  

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A 39-year-old man has been jailed for nine years for serious sexual offences in the Falkirk and West Lothian areas.

Kevin Malloy was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday, 13 August, 2025. He was convicted at the same court on Friday, 4 July, 2025, for offences against three women which took place between April 2021 and October 2022.

He was also issued with a non-harassment order.

Detective Constable Donna Smith said:

“Malloy subjected his victims to appalling abuse, and he will now face the consequences of his abhorrent actions.

“We remain committed to investigating all reports of domestic and sexual offending and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice. Anyone affected can be assured they will be listened to, supported and treated with the utmost professionalism and care by specially trained officers and our partner agencies.”

Description

A former Edinburgh Academy teacher exploited a position of trust to physically and sexually abuse young boys, a court has ruled.

John Young was found to have targeted pupils while employed as a PE teacher at the independent school in the capital between 1966 and 1993. 

The 91-year-old was deemed medically unfit to be criminally tried or to appear in court. 

However, following an Examination of Facts at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, the Sheriff ruled that Young had repeatedly abused children, with 26 charges found to be established   

Prosecutor Fiona Kirkby, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said: 

“The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service consistently and successfully strives to secure justice for those affected by non-recent abuse. 

“John Young systematically abused young boys, over a period of 27 years, while holding a significant position of trust as their teacher at the Edinburgh Academy. 

“He had a duty of care to nurture and support these children but instead intentionally exploited his power to violate and humiliate them. 

“This Examination of Facts is a public airing of the facts and an acknowledgement that what happened to these children in the past was criminal. It should never have occurred.  

“It is now a matter of public record that Young committed offences including lewd and libidinous behaviour, indecent assault and cruel and unnatural treatment. 

“The court’s finding today also sends a clear message to abusers: no matter who you are, when the abuse happened or how long after the event it is reported, there will be a robust response from prosecutors.” 

Evidence was heard from 24 former pupils – and a further three witnesses - during the hearing. 

Some of the victims detailed how the teacher would use violence to punish pupils for perceived bad behaviour, including punching them or hitting them with a cricket bat, megaphone or wooden wedge.  

Many told how they continue to be traumatised and struggle to trust figures of authority because of the abuse they suffered.  

The court had previously determined that the accused was not fit to stand trial and ordered an Examination of Facts, where the Procurator Fiscal depute and the defence led evidence, which was tested before a sheriff. 

Procurator Fiscal Fiona Kirkby added:

“Sexual abuse and the use of force upon children is a crime. 

“To any victim of such offending, we urge you to report it when you feel ready and able to do so. Be assured you will be listened to and supported. We remain committed to investigating and pursuing those culpable to seek conclusions.”  

Description

A paramedic who secretly gave a pregnant woman an abortion drug, killing their unborn child, has been jailed for 10 years and six months.

Stephen Doohan, who was a clinical team leader with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), administered the drug after he found out the woman was pregnant with his baby.

The woman, who did not know Doohan was married when they were in a relationship, suffered a miscarriage after the 33-year-old crushed pills into a syringe and injected her as she lay in bed at his Edinburgh home in 2023.

Doohan pleaded guilty to assault, sexual assault and causing the woman to have an abortion at the High Court in Glasgow last month.

Judge Lord Colbeck said Doohan had put his victim, who has not been named, "through considerable pain over a number of days, and left her facing a lifetime of pain and loss".

He added: "You researched and planned what you did to your victim.

"You used resources available to you as a paramedic before manipulating the woman and executing that plan under the guise of consensual sexual activity.

"You left her in what can only be described as considerable pain and anguish over the prospect of losing her child before she did, in fact, do so.

"The offences committed by you, frankly, are almost as serious as any this court is ever asked to sentence."

The judge stated the emotional victim impact statement he had read "radiates with raw pain" suffered by the woman.

Lord Colbeck also imposed a non-harassment order for an indeterminate period of time on the 33-year-old.

Doohan previously featured in a BBC documentary series, Paramedics on Scene.

He was suspended by the ambulance service after it learned of what he had done and he is no longer employed by them.

Doohan - who was married at the time – met the woman in Spain while he was on holiday in 2021.

He did not tell her that he was married and they remained in contact.

She found out she was pregnant with his child in March 2023 and by this time he had temporarily separated from his wife.

The court heard that the woman was at his home in the Grange area of Edinburgh a couple of days after he learned of the pregnancy.

She was in bed when he did something she could not see, but she said she was not "suspicious of his actions" at that time.

The court heard how he used the syringe on her and the woman began to suffer stomach cramps the next day.

Later at his flat, he gave her diazepam for the pain.

The court heard how she ended up in a "deep sleep" and awoke to find Doohan "initiating sexual contact".

This time she was suspicious of what he was doing but she was also feeling the effects of the diazepam.

When Doohan left the room, the woman took the chance to look under the mattress and found star-shaped tablets and a syringe with tablets crushed inside.

After searching online, she found matching images for drugs that could induce a termination.

'Appalling case'

Doohan initially denied what he had done before sobbing and claiming he was "scared".

He said he had got the pills from a doctor but insisted they would not work as it was the wrong dose.

The court heard how Doohan and the woman went to hospital but he pleaded that he would be arrested if she "told the truth".

The next day, the woman collapsed in the shower and had to return to hospital.

This time she insisted Doohan did not come in the examination room.

It soon emerged that she had suffered a miscarriage.

The court heard Doohan bought the woman gifts including perfume and tickets for a football match to keep her quiet.

But she eventually reported him to the ambulance service, the information was passed to police and Doohan was arrested.

Prosecutor Scott McKenzie said the woman has been "significantly affected" by her ordeal.

Mark Stewart KC, defending, said Doohan was "deeply sorry" for what he had done.

The lawyer added he had issues at the time which affected his "judgement and decision making" although that did not excuse what happened.

When he was convicted, the ambulance service said: "This is an appalling case, and our thoughts are with the victim.

"We recognise the courage it must have taken for her to come forward and speak out.

"As soon as we learned of the serious allegations and charges against Doohan, we immediately took action to protect the public and liaised with Police Scotland."

'Calculated and heinous actions'

Fiona Kirkby, the procurator fiscal for high court sexual offences, said: "Stephen Doohan's calculated and heinous actions caused the loss of the victim's pregnancy, robbing her of plans she had for the future.

"He has now been held accountable for this fundamental breach of trust.

"While offences like this are thankfully rare, I hope this prosecution sends a clear message to all those who seek to inflict sexual harm towards women.

"We recognise that reporting sexual offending can be difficult but would urge anyone affected to come forward and seek support when they feel ready to do so."

Description

Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, a man has been jailed for numerous child sexual offences in Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

Roderick Bryce-Hagain, also known as Roderick Bryce-Stafford, aged 52, of Milton Road West, Edinburgh, was sentenced to 22 years in prison, with a five-year extended licence period, at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday (1/7). The judge also deemed Bryce-Hagain a dangerous offender.

Following a three-week trial at Oxford Crown Court, which concluded on 24 April, a jury unanimously found Bryce-Hagain guilty of:

• Eleven counts of sexual assault
• Four counts of penetrative sexual activity with a child
• Three counts of rape
• Three counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child
• Three counts of causing a child to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity
• Two counts of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent
• Two counts of inciting a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity
• Two counts of inciting a child to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity
• One count of attempted rape
• One count of causing a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity

Bryce-Hagain sexually abused four boys in Oxfordshire and Berkshire over several years.

Bryce-Hagain was charged by postal requisition on 18 October 2023.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Nicola Fullerton, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: 

“I would like to thank the victims for the strength and courage they have shown throughout this long investigation.

“We would encourage sexual offence victims to come forward to police, no matter how long ago offences occurred.

“We will listen and do everything possible to bring offenders like Roderick Bryce-Hagain to justice.”

Description

A former soldier who attempted to penetrate a woman with a syringe containing his semen while she slept has been jailed and placed on the sex offenders register.

Brad Albutt, 40, sexually assaulted the victim on three separate occasions - twice with the sharp implement - over a 12 month period at a property in Edinburgh. The ex-serviceman, who was a corporal with the 1st Battalion, The Rifles, was forced to confess about his depraved acts when the woman woke up to find him holding the syringe and a tub containing his semen.

Albutt pleaded guilty to the three sex attacks at a hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in December last year and sentencing has been delayed on several occasions to obtain a psychiatric report. He also admitted to charges of assaulting the woman by punching her to the body and breaching bail conditions, all between October 2022 and October 2023.

Albutt returned to the dock for sentencing on Monday where Sheriff Kevin McCarron said there was no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence.

Sheriff McCarron said: “These offences spanned a period of one year and involved a significant violation of your victim. More worrying, these offences were planned by you.

“I am taking into account your background and it is also obvious you have served your country for a significant period of time and placed yourself at risk. To balance that, there must have been awful consequences for your victim of your actions.”

Albutt was jailed for 20 months and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years. He was also handed a non-harassment order banning him from contacting the victim for the next 10 years.

Lawyer Paul Smith, defending, told the court Albutt, c/o the Scottish Veterans, Canongate, Edinburgh, was a South African national and had moved to the UK in 2000. Mr Smith said his client had joined the British Army in 2008 and had served two tours in Afghanistan before leaving in July last year.

The court heard Albutt had been working recently with Lothian Buses and the criminal justice social work reports had been deemed him a low risk of re-offending. The court was previously told the first syringe attack took place as the woman slept at Albutt’s former home in the capital in October 2022.

Fiscal depute Ruaridh Allison said the woman had woken up to find she was being penetrated by an object.

Mr Allison said: “The accused was sitting on the sofa and she reached down and removed an object from her vagina and realised it was a syringe. She described it as being a very thin syringe unlike one she had seen before.

“She chose not to confront him at that time and gave the syringe back to him. Following this she lay down and pretended to go to sleep.”

Mr Allison said the woman was subsequently attacked by the squaddie with the syringe for a second time the following week.

He said: “She fell asleep on the couch while she understood the accused to be in the spare room. Around 11.30pm she woke up to find the accused beside her feet at the couch and noticed he was holding something in his hand.

“When she asked what he was holding he attempted to hide the object. She tried to grab the object and found it again to be a syringe and there was also a small tub sitting on the couch. When she asked, the accused then disclosed to her that both the syringe and the tub contained samples of his semen.”

The court was told the woman reported the shocking attacks to the police and a forensic examination conducted later that night had found her DNA on the syringe.

Mr Allison said Albutt had also sexually assaulted the woman as she slept by penetrating her with his fingers in October 2022.

Description

A paedophile threatened to hide the ashes of his partner’s dead child when she left him after finding out he was a child sex offender.

Robert Knight made the despicable threat to dispose of the urn containing the remains of the child “in a bush” after the woman had packed her bags and fled the family home.

The victim moved away with her young son after 38-year-old Knight had been outed on social media as a pervert by a paedo hunter group in 2023.

Knight also sent the woman death threats, texted an image of him holding a handgun and threatened to pour petrol through the door of a relative.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court was told the pervert bombarded the terrified victim with texts, emails and social media messages on Snapchat and WhatsApp in an attempt to speak to her.

The court was told Knight made 107 phone calls and sent 29 emails threatening her family members and demanding she give him money over a 48 hour period in August 2023.

Knight also sent letters, turned up at the woman’s new Edinburgh home and even left messages after hacking into her BBC iPlayer and Netflix accounts in a bid to contact her.

Prosecutor Eilidh Grant read out a prepared written narrative on Tuesday, July 3, stating Knight had made numerous threats to harm the woman and her family including the vile threat to hide the ashes of her dead child.

Ms Grant said: “On February 23, 2023, the accused sent text messages which read ‘Your family will pay. I (sic) make sure you have to move far away from your family for them causing this.

‘If you don’t call in five I gonna put [child’s name] in a bush hidden in case you called the police you won’t get him back. Hope your happy.’

“The reference to [the child] is a reference to [the woman’s] son who had passed away several years prior and who’s ashes she kept in her home with the accused.

“As a result of this comment she sought to end all contact with the accused. The following day she contacted police to report these various threats made by the accused.”

The court also heard Knight had deliberately driven his car at a male friend of the woman and knocked him over before shouting “I’ll come back and I’ll you” at the terrified victim.

Knight was arrested and appeared in court in September 2023 and after being released on bail he posted a picture of a black handgun to the family group chat before panicking and deleting the image.

The thug, from South Queensferry, then sent a picture of him holding the gun to a relative and stated he “had plans” for his ex-partner.

He added: “If I don’t get to see my son, then she won’t either. I’ll plead guilty, I’ve nothing to lose.”

Police were alerted to the threats and armed officers raided Knight’s home where they found “a black imitation handgun” during a search of the property on October 10, 2023.

Knight appeared from custody at the capital’s sheriff court for sentencing on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to the offences.

Sheriff Fergus Thomson jailed Knight for a total of three years and seven months and issued him with a 10 year non-harassment order that bans him from any contact with the victim.

Knight was caught sending a series of disgusting sexual comments and images of his penis to who he believed was a 12-year-old girl in August last year.

He was in fact in contact with an adult decoy from a paedo hunter group and was jailed for 340 days and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely after pleading guilty in January this year.