BRIAN GEDDES, PETERHEAD'S COWARDLY CHILD RAPIST, DIES IN HIS CELL

In March 1997, the community of Peterhead was shaken to its core by the tragic and disturbing death of Brian Geddes, a man convicted of heinous crimes against two young girls. Geddes, who was known locally for his reclusive nature, took his own life by hanging in his prison cell just five days after he admitted to the horrifying double rape.

According to reports, the incident occurred in a detention facility where Geddes was held following his court admission. The details of the crime are particularly disturbing: last July, Geddes lured two girls, aged 11 and 12, into a back garden where he committed the assault. Witnesses described how he, wearing a mask with slits for his eyes and mouth, forcibly ripped through a tent to carry out the assault. The attack lasted approximately three hours, during which he raped each girl in turn, with one of the victims being forced to watch her friend suffer.

The court heard that Geddes could not face the prospect of a life behind bars. In a note left for prison warders, he expressed remorse and a sense of hopelessness, stating, "There is no sentence the court can give me for the hurt and shame I put those two girls through. This is something I must do to clear my mind of this terrible crime." The note revealed his intent to end his life as a way to escape the shame and guilt associated with his actions.

His death was confirmed when he was found hanging in a toilet, using a makeshift noose fashioned from torn bed sheets. The tragic event prompted a fatal accident inquiry, during which questions arose about Geddes's ability to write the note. His brother, Michael Geddes, aged 36, also of Peterhead, expressed disbelief that Brian could have authored the note, claiming, "He was illiterate. He could not write." However, the inquiry was informed that other inmates had assisted Geddes by writing letters on his behalf.

Geddes's criminal history included a previous conviction in 1990, when he was sentenced to 30 months at the High Court in Aberdeen for indecently assaulting a 20-year-old woman in her home in Peterhead. During that incident, Geddes threatened her nine-month-old son and was found standing over her in bed, wearing a face-covering balaclava. This earlier conviction underscored a pattern of disturbing behavior that culminated in the tragic events leading to his death.

The community and authorities continue to grapple with the aftermath of these events, which have cast a long shadow over Peterhead, highlighting the devastating impact of such crimes and the tragic consequences of a man unable to face the repercussions of his actions.