Luke Thomson 28

Description

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."