HUGH DERBY SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON IN EDINBURGH FOR MULTIPLE SEXUAL OFFENCES

Hugh Derby, a 52-year-old repeat sexual offender, was sentenced to 12 years in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh. The court described him as acting in a "premeditated and predatory manner," targeting three victims while they were asleep and under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Derby was convicted of numerous serious sexual offences, including the gang rape of a 15-year-old girl at a flat in Auchinleck, East Ayrshire. Despite denying many of the charges during an earlier trial, the jury found him guilty of four counts of sexual assault, one of sexual activity with a minor, and one of indecent assault and rape.

The judge highlighted the severity of Derby’s actions, noting that he had specifically targeted vulnerable individuals. One such victim was attacked in 2013 during a camping trip at Leadhills in South Lanarkshire. His offending history dates back to 2000, when he committed his first indecent assault and rape of a 15-year-old girl. His criminal activities continued over the years, involving assaults on a 12-year-old girl and other victims in Auchinleck and Glasgow.

The court also noted his final known victim, assaulted in 2019. Derby attempted to deny some allegations, claiming that certain victims had consented or that some offences did not happen, but the jury rejected these claims.

As part of his sentence, Derby was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely. The judge described his conduct as grave and serious, reflecting the serious nature of the convictions.