INVERNESS DOUBLE RAPIST LOSES FIGHT FOR FREEDOM
A violent sex attacker who raped and beat two women and attacked a third after locking them in their homes has lost his bid for freedom.Michael Crombie was sentenced to 14 years in prison last September after being convicted of a series of horrific offenses.The jury heard that the 47-year-old, who was previously residing in Inverness but now has an address in Taunton, Somerset, forcibly held his victims against their will.One of the victims managed to escape by sneaking out of a window with her children.Crombie also assaulted a young girl repeatedly.He was found guilty of multiple charges including rape, assault, and abduction between 1989 and 1996.His legal team challenged the sentence, claiming there was a miscarriage of justice due to prejudicial evidence and that the sentence was excessive.
However, Lady Paton at the Court of Criminal Appeal rejected these claims, stating there was no miscarriage of justice and emphasizing the horrifying nature of Crombie’s offenses.
She stated: “His victims underwent enormous suffering and have been left scarred, both physically and psychologically, by what they went through.
In all the circumstances, we consider that a 14-year sentence fell well within the range of reasonable disposals.
We are not persuaded that the sentence imposed was excessive.”The court was told that Crombie’s first victim had been repeatedly assaulted in Inverness, and his second victim suffered a violent assault with a poker before being raped and having her daughter assaulted as well.
Later, he targeted a third woman, whom he raped and kept imprisoned, once detaining her for two weeks.
She managed to escape through a window on another occasion.
He denied all the allegations, but was convicted after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
The judge described his behavior as deliberately creating an atmosphere of fear, initially charming but quickly manipulative, controlling, and violent.
