ANDREW HUGHES SENTENCED IN INVERNESS FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AND VIOLENCE
| Red Rose Database
Inverness Rapist
Andrew Hughes, a 38-year-old man from Inverness, faced justice today at the High Court in Edinburgh, where he was sentenced to a substantial prison term of seven years and four months. The sentencing followed a series of heinous sexual offenses and violent acts committed against women, which have left deep scars on his victims and caused significant concern within the community.
Lady Hood, the presiding judge, underscored the severity of Hughes's actions, emphasizing that his conduct inflicted enduring physical and emotional trauma on those affected. She stated that given the gravity of his crimes, incarceration was the only suitable punishment. Hughes was found guilty of multiple serious offenses, including indecent assault, repeated acts of rape, and physical violence. Some of these offenses date back to his teenage years, highlighting a troubling pattern of predatory behavior.
The earliest known incident occurred in 2001 within the grounds of a primary school in Aberdeen, where Hughes restrained a girl aged approximately 15 or 16 and subjected her to degrading sexual assault. Over the years, his criminal activities extended to Inverness and Aviemore, where he inflicted violence on another woman. These assaults involved physical attacks such as striking her, grabbing her hair, and preventing her from seeking help from the police. These violent episodes spanned from 2004 to 2007, during which Hughes also forcibly raped her on multiple occasions, further illustrating his pattern of abuse.
Most recently, in August 2019, Hughes assaulted a second woman at her residence in Inverness. The attack was brutal; he pulled her to the ground, bit her, punched her, and threatened her with a knife, leaving her in a state of fear and physical distress. His defense lawyer acknowledged that Hughes has made some progress in addressing his issues with drug addiction, which has been a part of his troubled history.
Following his sentencing, Hughes will be registered as a sex offender indefinitely, a measure designed to monitor and prevent further offenses. Additionally, he will be subject to three years of supervised release, during which he must adhere to strict conditions. Any breach of these conditions could result in re-imprisonment, underscoring the seriousness with which the justice system views his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.
Lady Hood, the presiding judge, underscored the severity of Hughes's actions, emphasizing that his conduct inflicted enduring physical and emotional trauma on those affected. She stated that given the gravity of his crimes, incarceration was the only suitable punishment. Hughes was found guilty of multiple serious offenses, including indecent assault, repeated acts of rape, and physical violence. Some of these offenses date back to his teenage years, highlighting a troubling pattern of predatory behavior.
The earliest known incident occurred in 2001 within the grounds of a primary school in Aberdeen, where Hughes restrained a girl aged approximately 15 or 16 and subjected her to degrading sexual assault. Over the years, his criminal activities extended to Inverness and Aviemore, where he inflicted violence on another woman. These assaults involved physical attacks such as striking her, grabbing her hair, and preventing her from seeking help from the police. These violent episodes spanned from 2004 to 2007, during which Hughes also forcibly raped her on multiple occasions, further illustrating his pattern of abuse.
Most recently, in August 2019, Hughes assaulted a second woman at her residence in Inverness. The attack was brutal; he pulled her to the ground, bit her, punched her, and threatened her with a knife, leaving her in a state of fear and physical distress. His defense lawyer acknowledged that Hughes has made some progress in addressing his issues with drug addiction, which has been a part of his troubled history.
Following his sentencing, Hughes will be registered as a sex offender indefinitely, a measure designed to monitor and prevent further offenses. Additionally, he will be subject to three years of supervised release, during which he must adhere to strict conditions. Any breach of these conditions could result in re-imprisonment, underscoring the seriousness with which the justice system views his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.