EDWARD MCPHILLIPS FROM BATHGATE AND EDINBURGH SENTENCED FOR CHILD RAPE AND ABUSE OVER 17 YEARS

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Bathgate and Edinburgh, Edward McPhillips, aged 53, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over a span of nearly two decades. The High Court in Edinburgh heard detailed accounts of McPhillips' disturbing history of child abuse, which included the rape of a teenage girl and the sexual assault of three other young children, with incidents dating back to the late 1970s and continuing into the mid-1990s.

According to court records, McPhillips forcibly raped a 15-year-old girl sometime between December 1, 1986, and Christmas Day of that year. The court was told that the assault took place at an address in Bathgate, where the victim was subjected to non-consensual sexual acts. The judge emphasized the severity of the crime, noting that the victim was a minor at the time and that the assault was committed against her will.

Further investigations revealed that McPhillips had also sexually abused a 12-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, during a period from September 30, 1977, to September 29, 1978. This abuse occurred at an address in West Lothian, adding to the long list of offenses committed by McPhillips in the region.

In addition to these incidents, the court heard that McPhillips assaulted an eight-year-old girl at an address near Edinburgh between July 11, 1979, and July 10, 1981. The details of this assault were presented as part of the evidence that led to his conviction. The court also established that McPhillips had sexually abused a five-year-old girl at an address in Bathgate during the period from January 3, 1993, to January 2, 1994. The identities of these young victims remain protected by legal restrictions.

The case also uncovered that McPhillips had attempted to rape a schoolgirl on multiple occasions between New Year’s Day 1985 and December 25, 1986. These repeated attempts highlight a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned several years. The court was informed that McPhillips had a history of previous convictions for housebreaking and traffic offenses, but this case marked a significant escalation in his criminal activity involving sexual violence.

Judge John Beckett QC, presiding over the case, described McPhillips as a danger to public safety and ordered that he be detained in custody while awaiting sentencing. The judge stated, “You have been convicted of a number of grave sexual offences and it is appropriate for you to be placed in custody in preparation for sentencing.”

During the three-day trial, the jury found McPhillips guilty of six counts related to sexual abuse, including the rape of the 15-year-old girl and the multiple assaults on the other children. The court’s verdict underscores the extensive nature of his criminal conduct and the profound impact on his victims. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for later this month, where McPhillips will face the consequences of his actions, which have left a lasting scar on the victims and the community at large.