FORMER SOLDIER JAILED OVER HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE
A former soldier has been handed a 13-year prison term following his conviction for historic sexual crimes committed over a period of more than three decades in Argyll and Bute.Malcolm Sloss, aged 72, was convicted on ten counts, which included the rape of two women and a teenage girl between 1988 and 2021 in Oban, his hometown.
Known also for his work as a property builder and horse farrier, Sloss was described by the court as a "sexual predator" during his trial at Glasgow’s High Court in November of the previous year.
He denied any non-consensual acts, claiming that all sexual contact was consensual, despite clear evidence of significant age gaps.
The prosecution indicated that he assaulted a teenage girl interested in horses.
Sloss argued that any sexual activity involved was consensual, asserting that he would have understood if a woman did not want sex.
This included an incident where he assisted installing a wood stove at a woman’s home, whom he accused of being flirtatious.
Prosecutor Murray Macara observed that the woman described Sloss as persistent and determined.
In response, Sloss said she was not shy and that if she did not want sex, he would have known.
Additionally, Sloss was accused of raping another vulnerable woman near a recycling center after parking his car there.
He claimed their sexual interaction was consensual and dismissed the assault allegations.
He also refuted claims of attacking a girl during a drive to England, arguing it was improbable at motorway speeds.
Testimony also revealed he had molested another young girl and made inappropriate remarks towards her.
When the prosecutor suggested that the teenage girl’s account indicated delusion, Sloss replied that her testimony was false and attributed his actions to a "moment of madness," denying any non-consensual engaging.
The case covers multiple victims over many years, leading to his conviction in a case that underscores serious allegations of sexual offenses.
