JOHN MCPHEE FROM THURSO SENTENCED FOR ABDUCTION AND MULTIPLE OFFENSES

A man from Caithness, identified as John McPhee, has been sentenced to nine months in prison and received a lifelong restriction order following a series of serious criminal acts in Thurso. The incident that led to his conviction involved the abduction of a 14-year-old girl, which occurred on the evening of November 25th last year.

According to court reports, McPhee approached the young girl as she was leaving a residence in Thurso. The situation quickly escalated when he forcibly detained her. However, the girl managed to escape her captor after she sent a distress message to a friend, who then came to her aid and helped her get away from the situation. This act of bravery was crucial in preventing further harm and ultimately led to McPhee’s arrest.

During the proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh, McPhee admitted to the abduction, which was the central charge in his case. In addition to this, he also pleaded guilty to three charges of breach of the peace and one count of assault. The court heard that his arrest in connection with the November incident uncovered a history of other criminal activities dating back to June 2006.

The judge, Lord Stewart, noted that police had previously been unable to prosecute McPhee for these earlier offenses due to insufficient evidence at the time. The court was informed that during the abduction, McPhee made inappropriate and threatening demands for sex from the 14-year-old girl. The girl, frightened and unable to contact emergency services directly, instead sought help from a friend, which proved to be a pivotal moment in the case.

Further details revealed that McPhee’s misconduct extended beyond this incident. The court heard about an unwelcome sexual advance he made towards a 33-year-old woman at a party in Thurso in June 2006. Additionally, during the same year’s school holiday, he invited two 14-year-olds to his home, and at another time, he begged for sex while a 32-year-old woman was doing her laundry. The court also learned of an assault on a 15-year-old girl in a house in Thurso, where McPhee pushed her onto a couch before she managed to escape.

The judge emphasized the seriousness of McPhee’s actions and the threat he posed to the community. As a result, he was sentenced to nine months in prison and was subjected to a lifelong restriction order, reflecting the court’s intent to prevent any future harm from him. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and swift justice in protecting vulnerable individuals in the Thurso area and beyond.