Latest Offenders Midlothian

Description

A 52-year-old predator who carried out a series of horror sex attacks on an eight-year-old child and two other young victims has been jailed for 24 months and placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.

Mark Crosbie, a self-employed painter and decorator from Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, preyed on his vulnerable victim at a home in Loanhead, Midlothian, between 2004 and 2006. He also targeted two further victims between 1994 and 2004.

He was arrested after one victim, now an adult, reported the abuse. Crosbie denied all allegations but was found guilty of four charges by a jury after a four-day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this year.

At sentencing on Friday, May 15, police intervened after members of Crosbie’s family shouted abuse at the victims’ supporters. Three women were forcibly removed, one shouting: “are you f***ing joking me? - we know the truth”.

Defence agent Kenneth Woodburn said his client maintained his innocence but “does respect the authority of the court and respects he was found guilty in this matter”. He asked for a community disposal of unpaid work and supervision.

Sheriff Graeme Watson rejected the plea, describing the charges as “very serious” and noting Crosbie showed “no remorse or insight into the offending”.

The sheriff told him: “I have heard first hand the effect your offending has had on these individuals, these victims. I consider that there is a high level of culpability. These were offences against children and occurred in secret.

“Again I consider the level of harm is high. This has had a profound impact on [one victim] and will have for the foreseeable future. This is offending against three victims over a number of years.

“I have concluded that no method of disposal other than custody is appropriate.”

Sheriff Watson also imposed three non-harassment orders banning Crosbie from contacting two victims for five years and the third for 10 years.

Crosbie was convicted of using lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards a child aged 8-10 at Loanhead between 2004 and 2006; two similar charges against children aged 10 and 13 between 1994 and 2004; and disorderly conduct by making sexualised comments and staring at the breasts of an 18-year-old woman between 2001 and 2002.

Description

A Scots rapist ran off into the dark leaving his female victim "crying" from the depraved ordeal following a night at the pub.

On Friday, Kieran Cole, 20, was sentenced to four years behind bars after being convicted of rape last month. The horrific encounter took place in Bonnyrigg's Waverley Park after the Midlothian man spent the night with others at a nearby pub.

Cole, who was 18 at the time, raped his victim before running off into the dark as she was left crying. A nearby homeowner came to her aid and helped her home as Cole returned to a friend's house.

He then went home to his flat in Gorebridge in the company of another female as Lord Summers said Cole was "oblivious" to the gravity of his behaviour.

Following a trial, Cole was found guilty by a jury and a custodial sentence of four years was imposed.

He was also placed on the sex offender's register and given a non-harassment order for an indefinite period.

Lord Summers said: "Mr Goddard KC relied on evidence the jury heard at trial relating to the victim’s level of inebriation and capacity to consent.

"He submitted that evidence thar showed she could communicate with him and impart information relative to a number of matters was relevant to the level of sentence.

"I took the view that this information went to the question of consent and did not have any relevance to sentence save that it demonstrated that aggravating factors that might otherwise have been present were absent.

"After the rape Mr Cole ran off into the dark and left the victim alone in the Park. She was heard crying by a householder who came to her aid and assisted her home. I took the view that this conduct demonstrated a callous lack of concern for the victim.

"Mr Cole meanwhile returned to a friend’s house and in the company of another female returned to his flat in Gorebridge. His conduct showed he was oblivious to the gravity of his behaviour."

In mitigation Mr Goddward KC noted his client had no previous convictions as an extended sentence was not pronounced.