LEON PEDLEY FROM STRANRAER SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS FOR WOODLAND RAPE AND ABANDONMENT

In a case that has shocked the community of Stranraer, a young man named Leon Pedley has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of a brutal sexual assault and kidnapping of a teenage girl. The incident, which took place on the 13th of March this year, involved a series of violent and coercive acts that left a lasting impact on the victim and the local community alike.

Pedley, who was 20 years old at the time, had entered a plea of not guilty, claiming a defense of consent. However, the evidence presented during the trial at the High Court in Glasgow painted a starkly different picture. The 17-year-old girl testified that Pedley had physically assaulted her, grabbing her by the throat and punching her in the stomach before dragging her into nearby woods. She recounted how he used a shoelace to bind her hands behind her back, then proceeded to have sexual intercourse with her against her will.

The court heard that the assault was not a single act but a prolonged ordeal, during which Pedley continued to exert control and violence over the girl. After the assault, he tied her to a tree with the shoelace and left her stranded in the woodland area. The girl managed to free herself from the restraints and, despite her ordeal, made her way out of the woods. She eventually reached a path where she encountered a friend, who helped her seek assistance.

Judge Lord Brailsford, presiding over the case at the High Court in Edinburgh, described the attack as involving both coercion and violence, emphasizing the severity of Pedley's actions. In addition to the prison sentence, Pedley was also ordered to register as a sex offender, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the impact on the victim.

This case has resonated deeply within the community of Stranraer, highlighting the importance of justice for victims of sexual violence and the ongoing efforts to combat such heinous crimes.