NORTH AYRSHIRE RAPIST JOHN MCDOUGALL IS JAILED AGAIN
A CONVICTED North Ayrshire rapist has been jailed once again after breaching court orders aimed at protecting the public from him.John McDougall was described as having a "catalogue of convictions" for the same offence when he appeared at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.
The 45-year-old was ordered to spend 12 months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to failing to adhere to the requirements of his sexual offences prevention order (SOPO).
McDougall is considered a "very high-risk" sex offender and is classified as an "immediate risk of causing serious harm", prosecutor Craig Wainwright told the court.
It follows numerous offences, with his first conviction coming in 2000, when he raped a 19-year-old woman at knifepoint in Irvine.
McDougall was jailed for 10 years at the time, but was released on licence in 2005.
Two days after returning to the streets, he tried to drag a vulnerable 16-year-old girl into bushes in Irvine and was jailed again, for a year.
Upon his release, he was repeatedly found to have flaunted court orders, leading to more stringent restrictions being put in place in 2016.
He was placed on a 10-year SOPO, which placed a further 11 conditions upon him - once more leading to further offending.
"He [McDougall] is subject to robust police planning," Mr Wainwright told the court.
"This includes two daily visits by trained officers and he is frequently reminded of these conditions.
This included that he was forbidden from approaching or communicating with any female unless they have known relationship or they are in the company of another adult." It was then explained how McDougall breached this order in Countess Street in Saltcoats on January 16 this year.
The court heard that a woman had travelled to the area with her daughter on that day.
Whilst her daughter shopped, she stood and smoked on the street.
She was then approached by McDougall, who asked “If I give you a pound will you give me a cigarette?”.
The woman told him that his money was not needed and she gave him a cigarette.
He replied “That was your good deed for the day” and she thought nothing more of it before she continued shopping.
But the convicted rapist was caught out when police reviewed CCTV of the area and saw the interaction take place.
He was then arrested before replying that he had "done nothing wrong" once cautioned and charged.
McDougall stated he “just stopped a man and woman to tap a fag”.
Defending, solicitor Brian Holliman admitted that the narrative offered was "factually accurate".
He added: "The entire interaction lasted 12 seconds.
He had gone to the chemist to collect a prescription which wasn't ready.
He stopped one male, asked, and was refused.
On the way back to the chemist was when this interaction took place.
The woman did not complain to police.
It is not known why police reviewed CCTV.
He is categorised as very high-risk.
That is something he very much disputes in this offence.
"In a number of recent offences he has been out for 24-48 hours then arrested.
Officers are all over him like a rash.
It has caused significant difficulty to him.
He has spent the best part of 23 of the last 26 years in custody.
His last contact offence was 20 years ago, in 2006.
Everything since has been various notification breaches." Sentencing, Sheriff David Hall said that McDougall's background left him with only one sentencing option.
He said: “In view of the catalogue of convictions for this particular offence, he would have been very aware of the risk he was taking.
I have listened carefully to what has been said on your behalf.
I have also taken into account the circumstances in this case.
You have a terrible record and there is no other way to deal with you today other than by way of a custodial sentence.” McDougall was sentenced to 12 months in prison, backdated to his initial remand on January 19.
