DAVID HUTCHISON SENTENCED IN DUNFERMLINE AND KIRKCALDY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AND EXPOSURE

David Hutchison, a 35-year-old man with a criminal history, has been handed a six-year prison term following his conviction on charges of sexual assault and public indecency in the towns of Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about Hutchison's recent actions, which have caused significant distress and trauma to his victims.

On September 7 of the previous year, Hutchison was found guilty of assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a common close located on the High Street in Dunfermline. The assault was characterized by its brutality and the victim's distress, which was compounded by Hutchison's subsequent actions. Less than three weeks later, on September 28, Hutchison was convicted of exposing himself to a 20-year-old student in Dunfermline, an act that was deemed a breach of public peace and caused considerable alarm in the community.

The court heard that during the incident involving the student, Hutchison threatened her with violent language, stating that he would rape, kill, and hide her body if she did not comply with his demands. These threats added a layer of terror to an already disturbing act of indecency. The court also noted that Hutchison had a prior criminal record, including a six-year prison sentence he served starting in 1978 for the rape of a 19-year-old woman and an attempted rape of a 17-year-old girl, both in Dunfermline.

Lady Cosgrove, presiding over the case, emphasized the severity of Hutchison's actions and their impact on the victims. She stated, "I have taken into account the extremely unpleasant and traumatic experience to which you subjected a 16-year-old girl and the effect the experience has clearly had on her." Her comments underscored the court's recognition of the lasting harm caused by Hutchison's conduct.

Initially, Hutchison denied the allegations against him, but the jury reached a unanimous verdict of guilt after deliberation. The court's decision to impose a six-year sentence reflects a firm stance against such offences, especially considering the trauma inflicted on the victims. The case has drawn attention to the ongoing issues of public safety and the importance of holding offenders accountable in the communities of Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy.