EDWIN CUSCHIERI'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN ORKNEY: A DECADE OF TERROR IN SCOTLAND

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Orkney, Edwin Cuschieri, a hotel receptionist residing on Helliar Way, Shapinsay, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over nearly three decades. The High Court in Edinburgh found him guilty of six serious charges, including multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault, all involving women and children within the Orkney Islands between 1988 and 2016.

These crimes, spanning a period of almost 30 years, paint a disturbing picture of a man who repeatedly preyed on vulnerable victims in his local community. Cuschieri’s first known victim was a woman who endured repeated rapes at various addresses across the islands. During these assaults, which took place from 1988 to 1994, she was subjected to physical violence, including being pulled by her hair, and was subjected to degrading remarks by her attacker. The trauma inflicted on her has left lasting scars.

One of the most troubling cases involved a young girl, aged just eight or nine, who was raped at a residence on one of the Orkney islands between 1997 and 2001. The victim later testified that the assault haunted her for many years, highlighting the profound and lasting impact of Cuschieri’s actions.

In August 2016, Cuschieri’s criminal behavior escalated when he attacked another woman at a house in Kirkwall, where he molested her. DNA evidence collected from the scene linked him directly to the crime, specifically DNA found on her bra. The victim, visibly distressed, confided in her mother about the assault, prompting police to launch an investigation that ultimately led to Cuschieri’s arrest and conviction.

Further allegations emerged from incidents between May 2014 and 2016, when another woman was subjected to repeated sexual assaults by Cuschieri in Kirkwall. She recounted that he touched her inappropriately and made sexual remarks during their encounters. She described a particularly unsettling incident where he pushed her and threatened to carry out a sex act on her if another woman had not been present. On a different occasion, she felt uncomfortable after he touched her in a manner she found inappropriate.

Throughout the trial, Cuschieri maintained that he moved to Scotland initially to work as a diver off Caithness but later relocated to Orkney, claiming he was seeking a fresh start. However, his actions over the years have overshadowed any such intentions, leading to his conviction and sentencing.

Now, Cuschieri has been sentenced to ten years in prison and will be registered as a sex offender for life. His crimes have left a lasting impact on his victims and the community of Orkney, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting the vulnerable.