Latest Offenders Galashiels

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A 28-year-old man convicted of multiple rapes and sexual assaults in the Borders has today (Thursday) been jailed for ten years.

Luke Thomson, who gave an address in Galashiels, committed the offences at various locations in the region going back several years.

In addition to the prison sentence, he has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life and banned from contacting any of his five victims.

One was aged just 14 when she met him ten years ago. The woman - who we're not naming - has described Thomson as a "monster".

Reacting to the sentence at the High Court in Glasgow, she told Greatest Hits Radio: "Not long enough as far as I’m concerned, but I’m relieved it’s all over.

"There are no words to say how much I have suffered over the years since it happened. From dealing with the immediate aftermath of it and leaving school when I was 15, to the excrutiating mental toll that haunts me daily.

"This paedophile took the life I should have had away from me. And he did the same to others too. He is dangerous, he is vile and he shows absolutely no remorse for the destruction he has caused."

The terrified youngster revealed she was too afraid to report Thomson and that he was only stopped after police contacted her when other victims came forward to raise the alarm.

"It unfortunately didn't come as a shock to find out that there were more victims," she said. "I knew if somebody was capable of doing what he did to me, to someone as young as I was back then, then he would absolutely do it again.

"I would say to anybody going through this right now, even though it's the hardest thing I've ever done, every single person involved - the police, the court, the staff at the court, and so many more people - they all care, and they're unbelievably supportive.”

And, she added: "I hope, from here on, I can say it gets better."

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A former worship leader from Fife who raped a teenage churchgoer during a catalogue of sex crimes against women and girls has been given a life sentence.

Stephen Charters, 57, attacked the teenager at hotels in Edinburgh after she made a cry for help to him.

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A GALASHIELS man who had sexual intercourse with a Shetland pony has been jailed for seven months at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Jordan Turnbull, who is 28, and his 20-year-old friend Joshua Lee-Paterson each admitted having an unnatural connection with separate horses at Cothal Farm in Fintray.

Turnbulls offence was committed between October and December 2018, while Lee-Paterson committed bestiality between October and November the same year.

A third male, Mark Findlater, 34, admitted a charge of distributing obscene material of his co-accused engaging in sexual activities with horses and was jailed for 13 months and two weeks.

Fiscal depute Colin Neilson said the incident happened in a small wooden stable in a field and that all three men were known to each other.

At the time, the Shetland ponies named Jack and Ruby were owned by Findlater, who was in a relationship with Turnbull.

The court heard that between October 1 and December 31 2018, Turnbull carried out acts of bestiality on one of the horses.

The acts were filmed on a mobile phone.

Between October 1 and November 29 2018, Lee-Paterson also carried out acts of bestiality on one of the horses.

An air compression device was also used.

Again, the acts were filmed on a mobile phone.

Between January 17 and February 11 2020, Findlater sent a number of packages to people containing letters describing the acts of bestiality undertaken by the co-accused along with images depicting the acts.

Lee-Paterson was traced and arrested on February 5 2020 and, during the police interview, said he had been coerced into carrying out the acts on the horse by Findlater.

Lawyer Mathew Patrick, appearing for Turnbull, said his client had also been pressured into committing the offence.

He explained Turnbull suffered from psychological difficulties, added: It does seem to me hes easily open to suggestion and easily led and I wouldnt be surprised at all if that played some part in this.

Sheriff Philip Mann jailed Findlater, of Sidlaw Range, Kirriemuir, for 13 months and two weeks. The sheriff highlighted his record and said he should not have subjected people to the disgusting material.

Lee-Paterson, of Bell Place, Bagshot in England, was handed 18 months supervision and 225 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to custody. He was also made subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act for 18 months.

Turnbull, of Meigle Street, Galashiels, was jailed for seven months and made subject to the notification requirements for 10 years.