JOHN BLACK SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN FALKIRK

A man from Falkirk has been handed a significant prison sentence after being found guilty of serious sexual offenses committed against a woman in the Falkirk district. John Black, aged 28, was officially sentenced to six years behind bars at Glasgow High Court, following a conviction that marked a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victim.

The charges against Black stem from two separate incidents involving the same woman. The first incident occurred in May 2017, when Black was accused of raping a 19-year-old woman at an address in Maddiston, a town within the Falkirk area. The assault was reported to authorities in April 2018, prompting a detailed investigation by law enforcement officials. Subsequently, in September of the same year, Black was also charged with sexually assaulting the same woman, further compounding the case against him.

Following the reports and the investigation, Black was arrested and formally charged with the offenses. The case was brought before the court, where evidence was presented that played a crucial role in securing his conviction. Detective Constable Johnny McRitchie, who is part of the Larbert Public Protection Unit, spoke about the case, emphasizing the bravery of the victim. He stated, “The victim in this case showed a tremendous amount of courage reporting this to police. Despite the first incident happening in May 2017, she managed to provide us with a statement which allowed us to start our investigation.”

Further evidence revealed that Black had taken videos and images of the victim without her consent using his mobile phone. These recordings added a disturbing dimension to the case, highlighting the invasive and traumatic nature of the crimes. Detective McRitchie acknowledged the emotional toll on the victim, describing her experience as “extremely traumatic,” but praised her resilience in coming forward.

He concluded by expressing hope that the conviction and sentencing would bring some measure of relief to the victim, and reaffirmed the police’s commitment to thoroughly investigating all sexual offenses, regardless of how much time had passed since the incidents. The case underscores the importance of reporting such crimes and the dedication of law enforcement to ensuring justice is served in Falkirk and beyond.