GEORGE WEST FROM STRANRAER SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR SERIAL SEXUAL OFFENCES IN DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

A man identified as George West, hailing from the town of Stranraer, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty of a series of serious sexual offences committed over a span of nearly two decades. The conviction was secured following a trial held at the High Court in Glasgow last month, where West faced a total of 16 charges, including multiple counts of rape and indecent assault.

These offences, which took place across various locations within Dumfries and Galloway, date back to the years between 1988 and 2004. The court heard disturbing details of West’s actions, which included violent acts alongside sexual misconduct. During the proceedings, evidence was presented that West had pushed one of his victims down a staircase while she was pregnant, an act that demonstrated a blatant disregard for her safety and well-being. Additionally, he was found guilty of holding a knife to the neck of another victim, an act that added a threatening and violent dimension to his crimes.

Following the verdict, West was sentenced to a term of 15 years in prison on Wednesday. The case was overseen by the Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, Fraser Gibson, who commented on the significance of the conviction. He stated, “The jury convicted George West of a catalogue of serious, violent and sexual offences against nine individuals over nearly two decades. His actions have devastated the lives of his victims but thanks to their bravery in coming forward to report him he has now been caught and prosecuted. I would encourage victims of sexual crimes, whenever they occurred, to come forward and report them in the confidence that they will be treated with professionalism and sensitivity by the police and our expert prosecutors.”

This case highlights the importance of victim bravery and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring offenders to justice, especially in cases involving long-standing and heinous crimes such as those committed by George West in the Stranraer area and beyond.