ANDREW JOHNSTON FROM CARDENDEN SENTENCED FOR ABDUCTING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO YOUNG WOMEN IN KIRKCALDY

A man from Cardenden, Andrew Johnston, has been sentenced to 42 months in prison after being convicted of abducting and sexually assaulting two young women in Kirkcaldy. The incident, which took place on March 3, 2019, involved Johnston posing as a taxi driver outside Kitty’s nightclub on Hunter Street, a popular spot for nightlife in Kirkcaldy.

According to court proceedings, Johnston, aged 46, engaged in what was described as a calculated and sinister act of deception. The court heard that both victims, aged 19 and 21, had been heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident. Johnston approached them in his vehicle, which he parked strategically outside the nightclub during the early hours when taxis are commonly waiting for customers.

He then lured the women into his car under false pretenses. Once inside, he drove them to a secluded lane, where he parked the vehicle. It was here that the disturbing events unfolded. Johnston, who resided on Denfield Avenue in Cardenden, placed his hand on the naked stomach of the younger victim, an act that marked the beginning of the assault.

In a desperate attempt to escape, the 19-year-old victim tried to break the windows of the car. However, Johnston forcibly dragged her out by her legs and discarded her onto the street, describing her as being treated “like a piece of rubbish.”

Meanwhile, the second victim, who was unconscious due to alcohol consumption, was left in the vehicle as Johnston drove away. The young woman was later found in a vulnerable state, still in the car, after Johnston parked on a track and placed his hand on her naked leg, further assaulting her.

Johnston’s actions were thoroughly examined in court, where he was found guilty of two charges of sexual assault, one of assault, and two counts of abduction. The jury’s verdict was delivered at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, and the sentencing took place at Falkirk Sheriff Court, where Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist imposed the prison term and ordered Johnston to be placed on the sex offenders register for life.

During the sentencing, Sheriff Gilchrist described Johnston’s conduct as “sinister” and emphasized the premeditated nature of his actions. He pointed out that Johnston, who has prior convictions for soliciting prostitutes, deliberately targeted vulnerable young women by parking outside the nightclub at a time when intoxicated patrons were likely to be seeking taxis home.

“The only possible inference is that this had been thought out by you in advance,” the sheriff stated, highlighting the calculated nature of the crime. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of Johnston’s offenses and the need to protect the community from individuals who engage in such predatory behavior.