DAVID PENMAN: EDINBURGH AND INVERNESS SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC RAPE AND ABUSE AT ROYAL BLIND SCHOOL
In a case that has spanned decades and involved multiple convictions, David Penman, a man from Inverness with a history of sexual offenses, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his heinous crimes committed during his time as a pupil at the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh during the 1980s.The High Court in Edinburgh heard harrowing details of how Penman, who is visually impaired, preyed upon vulnerable girls and boys at the school, subjecting them to repeated acts of sexual violence.
Judge Lord Uist, presiding over the case, emphasized the severity and persistent nature of Penman’s offending.
He ordered a lifelong restriction order, which means that Penman will only be eligible for release once the parole board is convinced he no longer poses a threat to the public.
The judge described Penman as “evil and dangerous,” citing his long history of sexual offenses and manipulative personality traits.
The court was informed that one of Penman’s victims, who chose to remain anonymous for legal reasons, came forward in 2013 to report the abuse.
The victim recounted how Penman targeted her repeatedly during her time at the school, and she even overheard him discussing her as an “easy target” for rape.
This revelation was part of the evidence that led to his conviction.
In June of the previous year, a jury found Penman guilty of 11 charges, including rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault, all related to his time at the Royal Blind School.
Penman, who was 42 at the time of the trial, denied all charges but was convicted after a day of deliberations.
The court also learned that Penman had a prior conviction from February 2000, where he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for similar offenses involving rape and attempted rape.
Following that sentence, a judge ordered him to be supervised for eight years after his release.
Further complicating his criminal record, Penman was convicted in 2009 of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
He also received a two-year probation sentence in 1993 after being convicted of indecent assault.
During his recent trial, Penman, who was then incarcerated at HMP Edinburgh, gave evidence for the first time in his life, claiming it was his first appearance in court.
This prompted Judge Uist to order a report to assess whether Penman met the criteria for a lifelong restriction order.
After reviewing the evidence, Judge Uist confirmed that Penman did meet the necessary criteria.
He ordered that Penman serve a minimum of four years in custody before being considered for release.
The judge highlighted that Penman’s repeated offenses from the late 1980s through the 2000s demonstrated a deeply ingrained propensity for sexual violence.
He described Penman as “cunning, deceitful, and manipulative,” with narcissistic, avoidant, and paranoid personality traits.
The judge concluded that Penman is “an evil and dangerous man,” and that the risk criteria are clearly satisfied in his case.
In a related case from June 2017, Penman was found guilty of sexually assaulting eight fellow pupils at the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.
The court heard how Penman, who is registered blind, targeted his victims during the 1980s, with one victim recounting how he repeatedly attacked her and even discussed her as an “easy target” for rape.
The jury took just one day to reach verdicts of guilt on 11 charges, including rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault.
Prosecution lawyer Ian Wallace revealed that Penman had previously served a 10-year sentence starting in February 2000 for similar offenses, including rape and attempted rape.
The court also learned that Penman had been ordered to be supervised for eight years following his release at that time.
In 2009, he was convicted of breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, and in 1993, he received probation for indecent assault.
During the trial, Penman, who is visually impaired, falsely claimed it was his first court appearance.
Judge Uist called for a report to determine if he should be subject to a lifelong restriction order.
Penman, who had pleaded not guilty, was due to be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on August 30.
Adding to his troubled history, in August 2008, Penman was jailed again after targeting a teenage girl at her birthday party.
He falsely claimed to be looking for a lost dog, despite being banned from approaching women due to previous convictions.
The incident occurred in Nairn, where Penman had been living across the street from the victim’s family.
His actions led to his arrest for breaching a sexual offenders’ prevention order issued after his early release from prison in June 2006.
Penman had previously served time in Peterhead Prison, where he admitted to raping a 19-year-old student in an Inverness hostel and threatening a disabled neighbor with a knife before sexually assaulting her.
His license was revoked, and he was recalled to serve the remainder of his 10-year sentence, which was set to conclude in February 2010.
Legal authorities confirmed that Penman’s case remains under investigation, and he continues to be considered a high risk for re-offending, with ongoing restrictions and supervision in place.
