Search results for Edinburgh

Record details

A man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for the rape of a woman in Edinburgh.

Kabiru Jack Buraimoh was found guilty of the offence at the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, Wednesday, 4 November, 2026, following a trial.

The incident happened at an address in the north of the city on 12 May 2024.

Buraimoh entered the victim's home with a spare key and attacked the woman in her bed.

He was arrested later the same day and charged following a police investigation.

Buraimoh was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Detective Sergeant Louise Forsyth said:

"Buraimoh carried out a horrific attack on the victim who has understandably been left traumatised by the event.

"I'd like to thank her for her support as we conducted our investigation.

"Violence against women and girls is a national emergency and one which we are working with partners to address. We'd encourage anyone who is a victim of sexual crime to come forward and report instances to us. Support is available and perpetrators will be brought to justice."

Record details

A man has been jailed for 12 years for a series of non-recent sexual and violent offences in Edinburgh.

Ian Whyte, 62, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday, 21 October, 2026.

He has also been placed on the sex offenders register.

He had previously been found guilty of the offences, including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and assault, at the same court on Wednesday, 2 September.

The offences were committed between December 1978 and May 1998, against victims aged from an infant to 15-years-old.

Following an extensive investigation, he was arrested and charged by officers.

Detective Inspector Steph Garnett said:

“This was a complex investigation and our thoughts are with the victims. I hope the sentence helps them to come to terms with the abuse they suffered.

“Whyte will now face the consequences of his despicable actions.

“Police Scotland takes all reports of sexual abuse seriously. Regardless of the passage of time, we will investigate and bring those responsible to justice.

“We remain committed to supporting victims of sexual crime and protecting children from harm and abuse.

“I would urge anyone who is a victim of abuse to speak to police in the knowledge you will be listened to, taken seriously and fully supported.”

Record details

Abdul Nabizada was found guilty of rape at the High Court in Edinburgh on 7 July 2026.

The trial heard how the 19-year-old woman entered his vehicle in the early hours of 13 November 2021 after it appeared to be the vehicle she had booked.

Rather than taking her home safely, Nabizada, now 36, took her mobile phone from her and drove to a secluded area in Joppa where he raped her.

The victim managed to escape from the vehicle and contacted friends, who found her distressed and frightened a short time later.

CCTV footage from Queens Bay Crescent then showed Nabizada repeatedly returning to the area after the attack.

The conviction followed an extensive Police Scotland investigation.

Officers had to identify the offender despite there being no legitimate booking record linking the victim to Nabizada.

Investigators gathered and analysed evidence from multiple sources, including CCTV footage, mobile phone data and witness testimony.

This helped establish the movements of both the victim and the offender, helping to build the case presented at trial.

Forensic analysis also found Nabizada's DNA on the victim's clothing, providing further evidence to support the Crown case.

On 11 August 2026, the private hire taxi car driver was jailed for seven years at the same court.

His name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely and a non-harassment order was also granted.

Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said:

"This conviction is the result of the victim's courage in coming forward and the determined work of police officers to uncover what happened that night.

"Officers had to piece together evidence from a range of sources to identify the offender and build the case that was presented in court.

"The victim should have been able to trust that her journey home would be safe.

"Instead, she was seriously sexually assaulted by a private hire car driver who took advantage of her vulnerability and abused his position, resulting in a deeply traumatic experience.

"While stranger offending is rare, Scotland's prosecutors treat every report of sexual abuse with the utmost seriousness, recognising the profound and lasting impact these crimes have on victims and communities.

"I hope this conviction provides reassurance that reports will be thoroughly investigated and that COPFS will work with policing partners to ensure offenders are held accountable."

Record details

A man who abducted a teenage girl at knifepoint before raping her in a basement has been given an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR).

Aaron Strachan, now 21, approached the 15-year-old girl as she waited at a bus stop in Edinburgh city centre in the early hours of 25 May 2025. 

Due to feeling uneasy, the victim walked away towards Princes Street, where other members of the public were present.  

Strachan, who was wearing a balaclava, was then captured on CCTV following her from a distance.  

He then ran towards the girl as she sat at a second bus stop, threatening to harm her while brandishing a knife.  

Strachan seized her by the shoulders and forcibly led her to the basement of a building on York Place. 

He blocked the door with wooden pallets to prevent the victim from leaving before raping her. 

Strachan, who did not know the victim, was identified after his DNA was found at the scene.  

He was seen by police on Dalry Road on 1 June 2025 and ran off from officers but was located hiding in shrubbery a short time later.  

On 4 December 2025, Strachan appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh where he pleaded guilty to rape. 

He also admitted repeatedly stabbing a man on the hand with a knife, causing severe injury – an offence which took place just hours before the rape. 

Strachan further pleaded guilty to a second assault after striking another man on the head with a claw hammer on 28 May 2025, to the danger of his life. 

On 13 January 2026, after sentencing was adjourned, the accused escaped from custody while leaving the court building. He was caught by police a short time later.  

On 27 July 2026, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Strachan was given the indefinite sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of five years before he can be considered for parole. 

His name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely. 

Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, said:  

“Aaron Strachan’s actions in abducting his victim before raping her were calculated, predatory, and caused profound harm. 

“Although this type of stranger offending is rare, this conviction reflects the gravity of his crimes and the commitment of prosecutors and police to bring him to justice. 

“Sexual violence and the use of weapons to intimidate and harm have no place in our society. 

“We will continue to take action against perpetrators while supporting victims throughout the prosecution process.”

Record details

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.” 

Record details

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."

Record details

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.

Record details

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.”

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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.

Record details

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.”  

Record details

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.”

Record details

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.”