Search results for Edinburgh

Record details

Bradley Booth, 22, raped three girls and had underage sex with others as he targeted victims in Edinburgh and East Lothian.

A serial sex offender who preyed on underage schoolgirls during a catalogue of rape and abuse was jailed for six years today.

Bradley Booth, 22, raped three girls and had underage sex with others as he targeted victims in Edinburgh and East Lothian. Booth began his offending when he was aged 16 in October 2016 and persisted in committing sex crimes for nearly three years against a total of seven youngsters up until August 2019.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that one victim said she was left feeling "minging" after he subjected her to a rape attack at her home when she told him "no". During an earlier trial Booth, an airport duty free worker, had denied a series of charges and continued to deny them after he was found guilty.

A judge told him: "By the verdict of the jury you were convicted of 11 charges all consisting of sexual offences committed against girls who at the time were under the age of 16."

Lord Tyre said the three most serious offences were for charges of rape of three different girls. He added: "The experience continues to have a devastating effect on them some years after."

Booth's victims were aged between 13 and 15 and the judge pointed out that at that age children were vulnerable to exploitation. Lord Tyre said that he took into account sentencing guidelines for young people and Booth's lack of a previous criminal offending in dealing with him. He said the sentence would have been longer for an adult offender.

Booth, formerly of Northfield Drive, in Edinburgh, committed his first offence in 2016 when he indecently assaulted a 13-year-old girl. The girl had been drinking and found herself alone in the city's Niddrie area and had sought help. The court heard that Booth picked her up off the ground but then molested the child.

The following year Booth committed his first rape when he assaulted a 14-year-old girl after taking off her lower clothing at an address in Niddrie. He also began sending sexualised messages to another 14-year-old via Snapchat and asked her to send him nude pictures. Booth had claimed that he did not know the girl nor was he in touch with her.

He went on to have underage sex with another 14-year-old girl at two flats in Edinburgh and in 2018 contacted a 15-year-old girl via social media before subjecting her to a rape ordeal at a house in Haddington, in East Lothian.

Booth claimed that he thought she was the same age as him and she informed him that she had "a free house" before he arrived at the address. He said there had been kissing, cuddling and some petting but denied anything else happened.

The girl said she was pushed and pinned down and subjected to a rape ordeal. She later spoke to her sister who urged her to report it to police Booth went on to have underage sex with another 14-year-old girl at a house in Edinburgh in 2018 after meeting her through an internet platform. He claimed: "I have never seen her."

The following year he contacted a 15-year-old girl and sent her sexual communications and got her to send him a picture of her bottom. He maintained that he thought she was 16 or 17. He had sex with the underage girl but then raped her after she was feeling sore and said no to him.

He also sent indecent communications to another girl from the age of 13 and sent her pictures of his penis and asked her to send sexual images of herself to him.

Defence solicitor advocate James Keegan QC said that Booth continued to maintain his position from the trial and was on antidepressant medication. Booth was told he will remain on the sex offenders' register for an indefinite period.

Record details

A violent Scots rapist who targeted two ‘truly vulnerable’ women has been jailed for seven years. George Newby preyed on one young woman, who did not have the mental capacity to consent, on August 8, 2020, at a property in Loganlea Road, Edinburgh.

The 32-year-old repeatedly touched her on the breasts and buttocks, kissed her neck, and pinned her to the floor before performing a sex act on her after pulling at her clothing. The brute then grabbed her by the neck and raped her to her injury.

Just months later, he struck again at a property in the Pilton area of the capital, targeting a woman who was extremely intoxicated and asleep in February 2021. He pulled down her lower clothing, lay on top of her, seized her by the arm and pinned her to the bed before trying to rape her.

Defence counsel Gordon Jackson KC told the High Court in Edinburgh that his client continued to deny the offending behaviour but that he had a good work record.

He added that Newby’s partner continued to be supportive of him and described him as “a total gentleman” and that she had “never felt safe” in her whole life.

Passing sentence, Lord Craig Sandison said: “You pose a high risk of further sexual offending and a moderate risk of more general offending.”

Newby, who appeared via video link, showed no emotion as he was handed a seven year jail term and placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

Record details

Record details

Stewart Polson, 69, targeted youngsters for repeated indecent assaults for more than a decade at addresses in Edinburgh for his own gratification before going on to commit further sex crimes.

A vile paedophile who preyed on children by perpetrating a catalogue of abuse including rape was jailed for 13 years on Monday.

Stewart Polson, 69, targeted youngsters for repeated indecent assaults for more than a decade at addresses in Edinburgh for his own gratification before going on to commit further sex crimes. His former partner David Sinclair, 63, who also joined him in some of the abuse against two girls was jailed for 45 months.

A judge told Polson at the High Court in Edinburgh: "Because of the gravity of the crimes a custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal in your case." Judge Fiona Tait said that in statements provided by two of the victims they had spoken about the destruction of their childhoods.

She told Polson: "You maintain your denial of the commission of these offences and show no remorse for your conduct." The judge said victims had shown "considerable courage" to come forward and give evidence against him.

Polson, a prisoner, had denied a string of charges during an earlier trial but was found guilty of nine crimes, including indecent conduct, indecent assault and rape. The bulk of his offending took place between 1976 and 1989 at houses in the Edinburgh area and was against two girls and a boy.

One girl was targeted from the age of six and the other was aged eight when the abuse began. The second child was subjected to a rape ordeal by Polson.

But Polson, who previous convictions for violent and sexual crime, went on to indecently assault a further girl, then aged seven, at a house in a Stirlingshire village in 1993 before sexually assaulting another 12-year-old girl at an address in Kilmarnock, in Ayrshire.

Sinclair, formerly of Abbey Street, in Edinburgh, took part in the abuse of two of the girls in the 1980s in Edinburgh. He had denied a single charge of indecent assault committed on various occasions but was found guilty.

The judge told the first offender: "This was a crime of considerable gravity and it will have had a substantial impact on each of the two complainers." Polson told the court that he had met Sinclair at the Laughing Duck pub, which he described as a gay bar, in the city in 1983 and they became a couple for a time.

He claimed that he was living in Bournemouth, in England, at the time of some of the offending and said: "None of the allegations are true at all." Both men were placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely following their sentencing today.

Detective Inspector Jonny Wright, who led the investigation, said: Stewart Polson and David Sinclair abused children together, whilst Polson himself targeted children over the course of four decades across Scotland.

Thanks to the courage of their survivors in reporting the attacks against them, we were able to build a significant case against both men that ultimately resulted in their convictions in court.

Their prison sentences should send a clear message that that there is no time limit on when you can report sexual abuse. We will always conduct a thorough investigation, no matter how long ago the incidents occurred and we will do all we can to bring perpetrators of such offences to justice.

Record details

A sleazy shop worker who supplied booze to a 13-year-old girl sent her Instagram messages saying he loved her and wanted them to marry.

Vinit Kotadiya gave bottles of alcohol to the schoolgirl after meeting her at the East Lothian convenience store where he worked. The 23-year-old sent her perverted messages despite her repeatedly telling him her age.

Kotadiya, of the city's Meadowbank area, presented her with the gift of a rucksack containing 120 and bottles of vodka and Dragon Soop. But the victims mother became suspicious and police were called in after Kotadiyas offending was discovered.

Kotadiya appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday and pled guilty to sending messages that were grossly offensive, or of an indecent, offensive or menacing character. He also admitted giving alcohol to the girl.

Fiscal depute Morgan Beattie said Kotadiya encountered the girl outside the Lifestyle Express shop in Bridge Street, Tranent. Ms Beattie said the pair continued to engage over the next month and Kotadiya gave her his Instagram details.

The court heard the girl followed Kotadiya on social media and shed told him her age. Ms Beattie said Kotadiya would arrange to meet the victim at the back of the store where he handed over alcohol.

In a message sent on February 14 last year, Kotadiya asked the girl to be my Valentine and she again told him she was 13. Kotadiya sent her back a message saying, I will wait for you.

Ms Beattie said the accused sent the girl messages saying he loves her and wants to marry her. During this time, Kotadiya gave the victim a rucksack containing alcohol and cash.

The prosecutor said: Over this time, the (girls) mum became concerned by (her daughters) activity and observed messages between her and her friends which confirmed the accused had been giving her gifts including alcohol.

Police were alerted and Kotadiyas mobile phone was seized and examined. Kotadiya, a first offender, admitted carrying out the offences in January and February last year.

Sheriff John Cook deferred sentence on Kotadiya until next month for reports. The sheriff said he would consider arguments at that hearing on whether Kotadiyas conviction required him to be added to the sex offenders register.

Record details

Heavily tattooed Jai Pennycuick had abused a young girl at a flat in Edinburgh's Broomhouse in the 1990s.

The victim only reported to police what happened in May 2020 after coming forward and speaking to specially trained officers Pennycuick, now 39, was then quizzed by officers weeks later as part of an investigation into historic sex crimes.

Prosecutor Bill McVicar told the High Court in Glasgow: "He broke down crying and subsequently gave as full an account of the incident as he could remember. "He accepted what he had done was wrong ... and that he now had to face the consequences of what he had done."

Pennycuick - a construction site labourer - pleaded guilty to a charge of lewd and libidinous conduct towards the child on an occasion between June 1996 and June 1997.

The girl would have been as young as seven years old at the time.

Mr McVicar told how Pennycuick, of the capital's Pilton, was convicted of a number of sex crimes in England and Wales in the late 90s including indecent assault of a boy.

Until he was jailed, Pennycuick, who describes himself as single, had been attempting to find a partner on internet dating sites.

One recent post states: "Hi my name is jai I'm looking for a long term-relationship. I live in Edinburgh I have no kids never been married I like the outdoors and traveling I work on building sites."

Kenneth Cloggie, defending, said: "He cannot change the past and he is ashamed of that."

Sentencing, Lord Matthews said Pennycuik was also young at the time, but that he now had to deal with him as an adult.

The judge cut the jail-term from two years due to the guilty plea and further placed Pennycuik on the Sex Offenders Register (SOR) for 10 years.

Pennycuick will have to notify police of any change of address once he is released from prison.

As a Registered Sex Offender he will be subject to close monitoring by Police Scotland and criminal justice social workers and could face prosecution for any breach of the SOR imposed on him.

Record details

A monster who sexually abused children has been jailed.

William King was sentenced to six years behind bars at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday.

The paedophile abused two girls and a boy during the eighties and early noughties in Edinburgh and Fife.

King, 57, was arrested and charged in 2020 before being found guilty last month of various sexual assaults against his young victims.

Officers from the Capitals Public Protection Unit launched an investigation after a number of survivors came forward.

Police hailed King's victims for their 'great courage' and stressed that 'all reports of sexual assault' will be investigated 'regardless of the passage of time'.

Detective Inspector Jonny Wright said: The survivors of Kings horrific sexual abuse have shown great courage in coming forward with vital information, which ultimately led to his conviction.

His actions were appalling and he will now face justice for the offences he committed.

All reports of sexual assault, regardless of the passage of time, will be thoroughly investigated by Police Scotland and victims will be supported throughout.

Record details

Record details

A diving instructor has been placed on the sex offenders ' register after trying to recruit a 14-year-old babysitter to meet him in a hotel, stand in goo, and rub her "sweaty feet" on his face.

Michael Bramham, 44, was caught after English police targeting on-line child abuse placed an advert on Gumtree purporting to be from a 14-year-old schoolgirl offering babysitting services in Newcastle and Sunderland.

A female officer posing as the girl was then contacted by a man calling himself "Mike" - soon identified as Bramham.

An "extensive" conversation took place between them, initially on Gumtree and continuing on email.

The father-of-one asked her if she was interested in "a modelling job" which would be "clothed and suitable for her age", offering to pay her 100.

Prosecutor Cheryl Clark said: "He said he had kids himself and repeatedly asked her to send him photographs of herself.

"He went into details about what he would want to do with her feet."

Bramham promised a photoshoot, and suggested they could meet on a weekday after school.

Going into details of what he wanted her to do, he said: "You'll be barefoot and bare-legged and getting gunge poured on the soles of your feet, standing in buckets of gunge, and sat on a chair using your feet to pick sweets out of basins of goo."

He said he wanted to photograph her lying face down with her big toes "stuck in lots of goo" and with "stuff being poured or spread on the soles of your feet".

He also wanted some shots of her "standing in stuff".

She asked him if he wanted her to tell her mother, and Bramham emailed back, "Best not to."

He suggested, "We'll do a pic tonight and I'll figure out how to get 10 to you. Just want to see what you look like and if you're feet are OK."

He said he would "get a placed booked" and wanted to do the shoot before the end of February 2020.

He emailed: "Assume you'll be coming straight from school. What do you normally wear? When are you 15? Not important, just curious."

Ms Clark, depute fiscal, said: "The communication continued and 'Mike' told her to delete emails so her mother wouldn't see them."

Bramham then made several requests to photograph her bare feet and told her he had booked an apartment at a hotel in Newcastle and he would be there from 12 onwards.

Ms Clark said: "He made reference to her doing 'extra bits for money'.

"This would involve him smelling her feet and placing his nose between her toes and her rubbing her sweaty feet in her face."

Bramham asked, "Can you curl your toes up really tight, like clench them like a fist? Are you any good at picking things up between your toes? Can you do a thumbs up with your big toe, like curl your toes up but stick your big toes up?"

He said if she was "still interested in discussing some other bits" he could pay her 160 to 200.

He said: "Will pay 160 as well as the gunge shoot if I can smell your bare feet for half an hour, face pressed into your soles and nose between your toes and you rub them in my face for a bit.

"If they're sweaty that's better. If you've had PE at school don't wear socks under your trainers and bunk off straight after without changing your shoes."

He told her he could not give her his number "As the missus might pick up if you call" adding there was "nothing to be nervous about" and she would be "treated with respect".

The communications were traced to Bramham's home in Glenbo Drive, Denny, Stirlingshire, and at 8.00 am on June 10th (2020) the property was visited by officers with a warrant.

Bramham's wife was there with a young child but he was away working, and was arrested at 4.30 pm that day on a sea pier at Achiltibuie, near Ullapool in Ross-Shire.

He remarked to police: "I had a feeling the person I was speaking to wasn't real."

Bramham, a first offender, now of Bonaly, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty at Falkirk Sheriff Court to attempting to communicate indecently with an older child, for the purposes of sexual gratification, on various occasions between January 20th and February 20th 2020.

Defence solicitor Gary McAteer reserved mitigation and Sheriff Simon Collins QC deferred sentence for reports until March 17th, placing Bramham on the sex offenders' register.

According to the website of Achiltibuie-based Atlantic Diving Services, Bramham, a commercial scuba diver, PADI assistant instructor and first aid instructor, "runs diving expeditions around Scotland's Western and Northern Isles and enjoys filming underwater".

Record details

A Catholic priest has been convicted of sexually assaulting a young parishioner while she visited him with her family on Christmas Day.

Martins Enegbuma carried out the attack on the victim, who is in her 20s, in a house he was living in next door to his Edinburgh church.

The 44-year-old subjected her to unwanted kisses, rubbed her foot, and ran his hands over her body.

The victim, along with her mother and another relative, had visited Enegbuma as they didnt want him to be alone for Christmas and brought him food.

Enegbuma was living in the house beside Our Lady, Mother of the Church in the citys Currie area.

He left the woman distressed after what was branded a catalogue of sexual touching during the familys 45 minute stay.

Enegbuma, who is originally from Nigeria, is understood to have been the priest at the church for several months before the incident.

He went on trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, where he denied the charge, and was found guilty by a sheriff on Tuesday.

Fiscal depute Ross Price told the court how the family had gone to wish Enegbuma a Merry Christmas on December 25 2020.

Mr Price said Enegbuma instigated a campaign of sexual touching.

The prosecutor described how the woman was pinned in by Enegbuma during one encounter on a staircase.

He described how Enegbuma had carried out a gross abuse of position and a gross abuse of trust.

Mr Price said the victim was set upon in a predatory fashion by Enegbuma who was responsible for a catalogue of sexual touching.

It added up, he said, to become one horrible incident.

Mr Price said the victim had given evidence about her repulsion over the priests actions and his lingering wet kisses.

The court was told the victim told her mother about what had occurred later on Christmas Day having been initially frightened of her reaction.

The trial heard how the victims mother gave evidence about Enegbumas unpriestly conduct.

Enegbuma had known the woman for several months as a member of the congregation, the court was told.

Finding Enegbuma guilty, Sheriff Adrian Fraser said he considered the victim and her mother to have been credible and reliable witnesses.

The sheriff said hed found the touching did take place, that it was intentional and sexual, and there was no consent.

He told Enegbuma that the victim and her family had shown kindness to you at Christmas when he carried out the assault, adding: This is clearly a serious matter.

Enegbuma was found guilty of sexually assaulting the woman by repeatedly lungeing over her, rubbing her foot, compressing her toe, embracing her, kissing her on the hand, kissing her on the forehead, and running his hands over her body.

Sheriff Fraser deferred sentence on Enegbuma, who is now living in the citys Niddrie area, until March for reports.

He ordered Enegbuma be placed on the sex offenders register and continued his bail.

Record details

A music teacher who targeted young girls during a campaign of grooming, abuse and rape has been jailed for 11 years.

Matthew Birch, 45, who was said to regard adolescent girls as being fair game, attacked his victims while he worked at secondary schools in North Lanarkshire and Fife.

The former police officer had initially been described as a fun teacher and a father figure but a court was told that he preyed on vulnerable girls with musical talent.

Birch, of Edinburgh, was found guilty in December of nine charges including rape and engaging in sexual activity while in a position of trust between 2006 and 2017. Passing sentence at the High Court in Glasgow, Judge William Gallacher said: You have been convicted of a

Record details

Speaking on the I'mPossible Conversation YouTube channel, Strachan, who calls himself a 'forgiveness life coach', said he has spent time learning about "personal development".

Strachan, from Edinburgh, told how he raped a girl while she was sleeping when he was 21.

He was asked by host Sukhee M: "You mentioned about 'forgiving myself for my past'. How can people use forgiveness to improve their lives?"

The DJ and event organiser, whose stage name is 'Craig Saint', replied: "Admit what you've done and just ask the universe. For me it was forgiving myself.

"When I had my spiritual awakening last year, it was so, so scary. I was reminded of something that happened when I was 21. When I was high and totally f**ked up I raped a girl.

"I had sex with her when she was sleeping. It lasted about 10 seconds - she was in my bed and as soon as it happened I instantly knew, 's**t, I should not have done that'.

"When I had my awakening, when I discovered god or the universe, this was 2019. And I kept getting all these horrible feelings because I was getting well-known in Edinburgh. My nights were getting really popular, and I had this like shadow behind me, like 'remember what you did - remember you can't forget this'.

"I got so, so bad. It got to like last summer and like it was eating me inside. It was absolutely tearing me apart. I've got a really upbeat, happy personality and I was trying to mask my real feelings by being happy.

"I was honestly dying, I felt so, so bad. I was contemplating suicide. I just wanted out - it was really, really hard."

After leaving Edinburgh he moved out to Ibiza and started dating another girl, who he said had also been raped.

'I MADE A HORRIFIC MISTAKE'

He said: "I felt so guilty. I kept feeling these feelings of guilt and shame for months afterwards."

Strachan added: "I really hope the girl forgives me one day... I was comparing myself to all these bad people when in actual fact I made a horrific mistake."

The interviewer asked him: "Have you forgiven yourself?"

Strachan, who now lives in Barcelona, said: "I think, right now, I have. I really do. This very second, I've been getting signs from the universe that I need to tell people about it, tell people my story."

The life coach said he lives by the "law of attraction", a belief that positive or negative thoughts bring positive or negative experiences into people's lives.

One concerned person told The Scottish Sun: "Whats concerning is lots of people are aware of this and this man is still being allowed to work in bars and nightclubs and no one seems to care or be bothered."

Strachan told The Scottish Sun: "I don't believe that someone should have to spend a lifetime carrying their mistake if they have done everything in their power to fix the situation. I did admit to this and I also got in contact with the girl and her family to apologise for the situation. And I really hope that they do.

"That's why I created The Forgiveness Movement - to help people who are afraid to speak up about their wrongs and give them help with how to seek forgiveness and forgive themselves.

"I believe we as a society need to have love, compassion and understanding for each other rather than blaming and condemning. We all make mistakes and we should forgive each other for our wrongs rather than shaming."

The description on the YouTube video reads: "Craig is an international DJ, producer and event promoter from Glasgow with a love for bringing joy into the lives of the people he meets - whether on the dance floor or in person. He is extremely ambitious, goal orientated and fun, inspiring others to create the best version of themselves.

"By having such a strong production work ethic, spending 5 focussed years in the studio, (releasing under his Sesentayuno alias) last year he landed gigs in Switzerland, Italy, Ibiza & across Scotland, as well as selling out events in his home club at The Mash House in Edinburgh.

"Local & international crowds alike bond with his ability to create an incredibly fun party vibe, which takes the dance floor on an unforgettable journey. Craig shifted his focus throughout the lockdown to personal development, the law of attraction, coaching & helping others through their spiritual awakening.

"Now focus back on music with a fresh perspective to producing & the industry, he is using his skills to coach others how to make 'Groovy Tech House' music and preparing tracks for upcoming releases."

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: We are aware of the video and enquiries are being carried out.

Record details

Record details

A music teacher was yesterday jailed for assaulting teenage girls at a boarding school with drumsticks.

James Clark, 56, former chief drum and pipes instructor in the Army, had been found guilty of common assault by hitting or touching their backsides.

He was also convicted of breach of trust by sexual activity with, or directed at, pupils and communicating indecently with a girl.

Clark was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison after attacking seven girls, aged 13 to 18. Falkirk Sheriff Court heard that he had a 'habit' of touching girls on their bottoms at the school in Perthshire.

Jurors heard that Clark engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old in 2018, kissing in her a cupboard and performing a sex act in the bagpipe store.

The victim, now 20, said Clark 'abused' her in his car, in the band hut, 'in the drying room...and at one point in the children's tuck cupboard'. She said he had put his hand up her T-shirt and under her skirt.

One former pupil, now 23, said she felt 'violated' after being regularly struck on the backside, often during tartan skirt-fitting sessions in the school shop.

She said during a music trip to Switzerland Clark, pictured, smacked her on the behind 'pretty much all the time'.

Other ex-pupils said when they challenged him about hitting bottoms with his hands, drumsticks or a rolled-up copy of the register, father-of-six Clark, known as 'Drummie', would tell them: 'I'm your school Dad.'

One victim said when she was 16 Clark cornered her at a Christmas concert in the school and told her: 'The two of us should have children together.'

He was also said to have hugged girls and entered one pupil's bedroom when she was asleep, sat on her bed and kissed her on the forehead.

Clark, of Edinburgh, had denied the charges. Sarah Livingstone, defending, said he had an 'illicit affair' with the girl, but prosecutor Cheryl Clark said the victim had been groomed.

Sheriff Alistair Brown, sentencing, said: 'Sexual activity by a man in relation to a girl under 18...in a position of trust is absolutely prohibited. There are no exceptions. It is always a crime.'

Clark, now a gardener, showed no emotion as he was led to the cells. He will never work with children again.

Record details

Judge Lady Poole praised the bravery of the four young women as she gave their attacker Dillon Anderson,21, a nine year prison sentence.

He raped the young women during a horrifying campaign of abuse which he began when he was just 14-years-old.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Anderson throttled two of his victims during the assaults. One woman - a former undergraduate of Edinburgh University - said Anderson repeatedly caused her to pass out after compressing her neck. On one occasion, he was so scared that he had killed her, he checked her pulse.

Jurors heard how he Anderson wanted her to take part in rape role plays where she would be unconscious and he would do whatever he wanted.

Describing one occasion, she was throttled, the woman - who is now aged 23 - told police: When I came round, he was checking my pulse and he said I thought you had died. He looked panicked.

One of the woman also made a covert recording of Anderson attacking her - the sounds of her screaming and telling her assailant to stop were played to jurors. Anderson could be heard laughing manically as he ignored her pleas.

The story emerged after Anderson - a former resident of Edinburghs exclusive new town area - was found guilty earlier this year of raping the women, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

On Tuesday, judge Lady Poole told Anderson that his conduct was disturbing - she also ordered the authorities to supervise him for four years following his release from custody.

Passing sentence, Lady Poole told him that she had read statements from the women detailing how Andersons conduct has affected them.

She added: The sexual violence you perpetrated is disturbing. One of your victims spoke to losing consciousness because of you compressing her neck.

When she came round, there were times you were having sex with her. There were other times when she came to, and you said you thought shed died and laughed, or you were checking her pulse because you thought she might have died.

These were terrifying experiences. I have read victim impact statements. Your victims suffered grievously at your hands, and their contact with you has left them with long lasting emotional scars.

They are to be commended for having the courage to come forward, and go through the difficult experience of giving evidence about what happened to them.

Anderson committed his offences between May 2014 and January 2020.

During the trial, the court heard Anderson claim he was a virgin when he physically restrained a girl, who was then aged 14, at a house in Newtongrange, Midlothian.

The court heard how he forced her to lie on a bed and removed her clothing before raping her on an occasion between May 2014 and June 2014 .

On various occasions between August 2015, at addresses in Edinburgh and West Lothian, Anderson raped another girl who was aged 18.

Anderson then repeatedly raped the Edinburgh University student - who was aged 19 - between September 2017 and December 2017.

The court heard how Anderson often choked her during sex.

Jurors heard extracts from statements she gave to the police.

She told detectives: He would use a lot of force and I kept saying get off. I tried to grab his hands and continue. He would squeeze my throat and I couldnt breathe.

I dont know how long it went on for. But I got the same feelings as before the fuzziness and everything.

I started thinking is that what dying feels like.

Some of the times he did this to me, he would say I actually thought you had died and he would laugh. I eventually passed out.

As he strangled me, I lost complete consciousness. I am not sure how I had lost consciousness but when I came around I was really sore. It was intense pain.

The young woman also told the court of how Anderson subjected her to unwanted attention and had bombarded her with unwanted phone calls and social media messages.

Anderson also preyed on another woman between December 2018 and January 24 2020. The court also heard how he also throttled this woman, who is now aged 24, before raping her.

During the recording which was played to jurors, the woman was heard crying and repeatedly screaming get off of me. Anderson can be then heard telling the woman: breathe, breathe, breathe and breathe in, breathe out and inhale, inhale, inhale.

The woman can be heard to ask: What are you doing you f***ing psycho? Anderson was then heard laughing.

On Tuesday, defence solicitor advocate Iain McSporran QC told the court that Anderson had started to appreciate how his actions had affected his women.

He added: There is the beginning of an acknowledgement on his part. There is an insight on his part into how his conduct affected the complainers and how it was utterly inappropriate.

These are perhaps the beginning of rehabilitation.

Passing sentence, Lady Poole also placed Anderson on the Sex Offenders Register for life. She also ordered that Anderson not contact his victims for 25 years.

She said: Your victims have suffered long term effects from what you did to them, and deserve to be protected from you.