SERIAL RAPE OFFENDER AARON CARSON SWAN SENTENCED IN INVERNESS

On May 3, 2024, at the High Court in Inverness, Lord Weir issued a lifelong restriction order against Aaron Carson Swan. He was convicted on multiple charges, including rape and sexual assault, and is now required to serve a minimum of six years in prison before being eligible for parole. Additionally, Swan has been subject to non-harassment orders and added to the sex offenders’ register.

During sentencing, Lord Weir addressed Swan directly, stating: “Aaron Swan, you were found guilty after trial of six charges, including domestic abuse, sexual assault, and four incidents of rape involving three different complainants, two of whom were your partners at the time. The first two rapes, reflected in charges two and three, occurred on the same night, in the same house, with your then partner and a friend of hers who had stayed over by prior arrangement. Your conduct on that night led to a long-standing estrangement between the two women. The jury also heard evidence painting a disturbing picture of your violent, manipulative, and self-centred behaviour within your domestic and family relationships. The impact statements from the complainants revealed the profound, lasting trauma caused by your actions, which is both heartbreaking and alarming.

“According to the report prepared for today’s hearing, you pose a very high risk of causing sexual harm to adult women and minors. To protect the public, I am satisfied that a lifelong restriction order is justified. The severity and circumstances of your crimes, combined with your criminal record, numerous risk factors highlighted in the assessment, and the lack of significant protective factors, indicate there is a real likelihood that, if released, you would endanger others’ lives or well-being. Therefore, I am making a lifelong restriction order.

“This sentence is indeterminate, meaning you will only be released if the Parole Board is convinced that your release would not threaten public safety. Significant rehabilitative work would be necessary before such release could be considered, and although you have expressed a willingness to participate in such efforts, strict conditions will apply, and breach of those conditions could result in your return to prison.

“For retribution and deterrence, I must set a punishment period. This is the minimum time you must serve before the Parole Board can consider your case. Normally, I assess what a fixed-term sentence for these offences would be, ignoring the time necessary for public protection. Had I imposed a determinate sentence, it would amount to 14 years. Allocating 2 years for public protection reduces this to 12 years. The law then requires a statutory reduction for early release rules, resulting in a punishment part (minimum custodial period) of six years. This period is backdated to November 17, 2023, the date of your remand after the trial.

“Please understand that this six-year period does not guarantee your release at that time. It simply means you cannot be considered for parole until that minimum period has elapsed. When the time comes, your release will depend on the Parole Board’s assessment of the risks you pose.

“Charges 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 will also require you to comply with indefinite notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

“I further order non-harassment prohibitions, forbidding you from approaching or contacting the three complainants named in the indictment, as well as the children of the second and third complainants. These orders will remain in effect indefinitely.”