EDINBURGH MAN JAILED FOR RAPING TEENAGER AFTER ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS
A man named Graham Shepherd has been sentenced to seven years in prison after he committed a sexual assault on a teenage girl.The incident occurred in the early hours in Kirkwall, Orkney, where Shepherd, aged 32 at the time, approached the girl, who had offered to show him the way to an address.
The judge, Lady Haldane, stated, “You have been convicted of the rape of a young girl, a stranger to you, which was no doubt a horrific experience for her.” She further emphasized that the court saw no reason to impose anything less than a lengthy custodial sentence, citing Shepherd's callous disregard for the victim's welfare.
The judge noted, “There was no suggestion at any point during this assault or afterwards that you exhibited any concern for her welfare.” Shepherd had been drinking heavily before the attack.
During the trial at Aberdeen, Shepherd denied the rape but was found guilty.
The court described how he seized the girl, lifted her, dropped her onto the ground, and removed her underwear.
Background reports indicated Shepherd did not take responsibility for the crime, claiming the act was consensual and falsely accused the victim.
Shepherd previously worked as a scaffolder and roofer but was unable to join the Army.
He was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, and his name was added to a list of people deemed unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups.
His prison term was backdated to October 2019 as he has been in custody since then.
