CONNOR MACKINNON'S CRIMES IN INVERNESS: SHOCKING RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS LEAVE COMMUNITY REELING
In a series of disturbing incidents that have sent shockwaves through the community of Inverness, Connor MacKinnon, a 19-year-old known offender from the city, has been convicted and sentenced for heinous sexual crimes involving vulnerable victims.The gravity of his offenses, spanning over several months, highlights a troubling pattern of predatory behavior that has deeply affected the lives of those involved.
MacKinnon’s criminal activities came to light after a thorough investigation by police, who gathered substantial evidence to bring him to justice.
His crimes include the sexual assault of an underage girl and the abuse of a young woman with learning difficulties, both of whom cannot be named for legal reasons.
The incidents occurred between December 2017 and August 2018, with the first assault taking place at a cinema and a church in Inverness, and the second at a homeless unit within the city.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Lord Burns sentenced MacKinnon to a total of four years and three months in prison for the rape of the underage girl.
Additionally, he received two years and six months for one sexual assault and two years for another, with all sentences to run concurrently.
The judge emphasized the seriousness of MacKinnon’s offenses, noting his limited insight into his actions and the need for strict supervision upon his release.
MacKinnon will be monitored by authorities for three years following his incarceration, ensuring that he remains under scrutiny to prevent further harm.
Prior to these convictions, MacKinnon had already been registered as a sex offender.
In March 2019, he was convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl and sexually assaulting a disabled young woman with a borderline learning disability.
These crimes occurred while he was on remand at Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution near Falkirk, and he had previously been convicted in January 2018 of three sexual assaults involving 13-year-old girls.
His name was added again to the sex offenders’ register following these latest convictions, and Scottish Ministers will be formally notified as part of the legal process to protect vulnerable groups.
The court heard detailed accounts of the assaults.
The 15-year-old victim, whom MacKinnon forcibly raped in his bedroom at the Eildon House homeless unit in Inverness, recounted how she had initially met him after a chance encounter and had talked to him on a bus, revealing her age.
She was lured to his hostel to charge her phone, where the assault occurred.
The victim described how MacKinnon became flirtatious before suddenly pinning her down, covering her mouth, and forcing himself on her.
She managed to escape by lifting her knees, but the trauma left her emotionally distressed, leading her to confide in a close friend, who eventually reported the incident to police.
Further disturbing details emerged about MacKinnon’s previous conduct.
He had befriended the 17-year-old girl with learning difficulties, whom he had assaulted at the Vue Cinema in Inverness on December 22, 2017.
During that incident, he placed her on his lap, touched her inappropriately, and sexually penetrated her with his fingers.
The court heard how he had initially met her through Facebook and arranged to meet her at the cinema, with her mother present but unaware of the full extent of his intentions.
The victim recounted how MacKinnon had tried to kiss her and later, at a church service, had forcibly put his hands under her top and bra, despite her protests and attempts to push him away.
MacKinnon’s history of offending is compounded by his previous registration on the sex offenders’ register, which was initially imposed after his January 2018 conviction.
His breach of a community payback order, which included strict conditions not to contact children under 16, resulted in a six-month detention.
His registration period was extended from three to seven years, reflecting the severity of his repeated offenses.
As he remains in custody, his case continues to be closely monitored, with ongoing legal proceedings and assessments of the risk he poses to the public.
Overall, the case underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for robust measures to protect vulnerable individuals from predatory offenders like Connor MacKinnon, whose actions have left a lasting impact on the victims and the community of Inverness.
