JOHN SIMPSON FROM EAST LOTHIAN FACES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN EDINBURGH AND COCKENZIE
In a disturbing series of events that have shocked the local communities, John Simpson, a taxi driver from East Lothian, has been found guilty of multiple sexual assaults involving vulnerable teenagers.The incidents took place in Edinburgh and Cockenzie, highlighting a pattern of predatory behavior that has left victims traumatized and authorities determined to seek justice.
In October 2021, Simpson's crimes came to light following a four-day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.
The jury convicted him of two separate sexual assaults on teenagers who were heavily intoxicated at the time.
Simpson, aged 63, was accused of preying on two 18-year-old males during separate incidents in April 2019, as well as making inappropriate sexual comments to a third male victim during a taxi ride in May of the same year.
The first victim, an 18-year-old man, recounted waking up to find Simpson performing oral sex on him inside the taxi.
The young man sustained injuries, including cuts to his genital area, as he fought to escape the assault.
The taxi had stopped at a deserted business park in Edinburgh when the attack occurred.
Despite the trauma, the victim managed to fight off Simpson and fled the vehicle, seeking help from a passing bus driver, who then alerted the police.
The second victim, also 18 at the time, was picked up after a night out with friends in Portobello, Edinburgh.
He described how Simpson made sexual remarks during the journey, including asking if he liked girls, which he found repulsive.
The driver then pulled into a secluded street in Cockenzie, East Lothian, where Simpson allegedly jumped into the back of the taxi and offered to perform oral sex in exchange for the fare of £36.
The young man, now 20, recounted how he initially dismissed the comment but was then subjected to the assault.
He described feeling terrified and helpless as Simpson forced himself on him, with the victim stating, "He put my penis in his mouth.
I just sat there as I was really scared." Fortunately, the victim managed to fight Simpson off after about 20 seconds, punching and head-butting him before fleeing the scene.
He now suffers from nightmares and anxiety related to the attack, highlighting the lasting impact of the trauma.
Simpson denied the allegations, claiming that he was the victim of an attack himself in 2015 and insisted that he never touched the second victim.
He also argued that the sexual comments made during the taxi ride were instigated by the young man and that he had been attacked first.
However, the jury was unconvinced, taking only two hours to convict Simpson of both sexual assaults and the additional charge of making sexual comments to a third male passenger.
Sheriff Alistair Noble addressed the court following the verdict, stating, "You have been convicted of extremely serious offences and all options will be open to the court." As part of his sentence, Simpson was placed on the Sex Offenders Register, and the court deferred sentencing until next month, indicating that further penalties could be imposed based on the court's review of the case.
The case has raised concerns about the safety of vulnerable individuals in taxi services and the importance of rigorous background checks for drivers.
The victims' bravery in coming forward has been commended, and the community awaits the sentencing, which will determine the full extent of justice for these heinous crimes.
