JOHN LOCKE'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN INVERNESS: A SERIAL RAPIST'S REIGN OF TERROR AND HIS LEGAL BATTLES

In February 2008, a significant legal development unfolded in Inverness as a court prepared to hear an appeal from John Locke, a notorious serial rapist whose criminal history spans several decades and multiple locations across Scotland. Locke, now 51, was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 15 years after being convicted in the High Court in Inverness for the brutal rape of a 15-year-old girl in 1998, an assault that marked a dark chapter in his long history of sexual violence.

Locke's criminal record is extensive, with prior convictions for rape in the 1980s at courts in Glasgow and Airdrie. His first known conviction was in 1983 in Glasgow, where he received a three-year sentence for rape. Later, in 1988, he was sentenced to 15 years for an assault on a 16-year-old girl in Airdrie. Despite these convictions, Locke was released early on multiple occasions, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the justice system in managing repeat offenders.

His most recent conviction stemmed from an attack in Inverness, where he raped a 15-year-old girl on an estate in 1998, just three months after his release from a decade-long imprisonment. Locke's release was controversial, especially given a psychiatric warning that he was likely to reoffend. The attack on the young girl was particularly heinous, involving dragging her into a garden and subjecting her to a brutal rape as she was walking home late at night.

In the legal proceedings, Locke was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a recommendation that he serve at least 15 years. His case has now become the subject of an appeal, with Locke claiming that the 15-year minimum term was excessive and inconsistent with sentencing practices at the time of his conviction in August 1998. The appeal hearing was scheduled to be heard by a panel of seven judges, but the request was denied. However, two judges, Lord MacFadyen and Lady Paton, agreed that the case warranted further examination of the sentencing.

Locke's criminal history also includes a 1983 conviction in Glasgow and a 1988 conviction in Airdrie, where he was sentenced for assaulting a 16-year-old girl. His pattern of violence and sexual offenses underscores the dangerous nature of his character. Following his latest conviction, Locke was transferred from Peterhead prison in Aberdeenshire to Barlinnie in Glasgow, amid reports that he was involved in a disturbing criminal activity behind bars.

In June 2004, it was revealed that Locke, then 48, had been involved in smuggling cannabis into prison by hiding it in a fish tank in his cell. He was also reportedly making around £500 a week selling the drug to fellow inmates. This illicit activity led to Locke and two other sex offenders being moved from Peterhead to other prisons, including Dumfries and Edinburgh. Prison insiders described Locke as the ringleader of this operation, which involved significant financial gain and was conducted with apparent ease, despite the prison authorities' efforts to uncover evidence.

Locke's criminal activities extend beyond sexual violence. His history reveals a pattern of manipulation and criminal enterprise, even during incarceration. His origins trace back to the Coatbridge area of Lanarkshire, and his criminal career has been marked by repeated breaches of the law, including a conviction in 1983 and subsequent offenses.

Elaine, a survivor of Locke's brutal attack, has become an outspoken advocate for legal reform. Her ordeal began in September 1998, when Locke, having been released early from a 15-year sentence, attacked her just three months later. Her harrowing account details how Locke, whom she had never seen before, approached her under the pretense of walking her home. When she declined, he suddenly grabbed her from behind, threatened her with a knife, and dragged her under a bridge over a disused railway line in Inverness.

Despite the presence of over 100 witnesses, no one intervened, mistaking the attack for a domestic dispute. Locke then tied her up, beat her, and repeatedly raped her over what she describes as a two-hour ordeal. During the attack, Locke ripped her clothes apart and left her naked, laughing and believing she was dead after he checked her pulse. Her account vividly captures the horror and trauma she endured, which has left lasting scars.

Following the attack, Elaine was rescued by railway workers who found her and took her to the police station for examination. The trauma of the assault and subsequent legal proceedings have haunted her for over a decade. She describes her ongoing struggles with nightmares, panic attacks, hallucinations, and severe depression. Her physical health was also affected, with her weight dropping to just over six stones at one point due to the mental strain.

Elaine's case was instrumental in highlighting the dangers posed by repeat offenders like Locke. Her campaign for legal reform aims to ensure that sex offenders serve their full sentences, rather than being released early under current laws that allow for early release after serving two-thirds of their sentence if they behave well in prison. She has already met with MP Helen Liddell, who has written to Scottish Home Affairs Minister Henry McLeish to advocate for change.

Locke's latest victim was a 15-year-old girl in Inverness, and during his trial, a psychiatrist described him as a