PHILIP COSSAR FROM GALASHIELS SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ASSAULTS

A man with a military background, Philip Cossar, aged 41, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of subjecting two women to a series of severe sexual and physical assaults. The crimes took place over a span of nearly nine years, from December 2010 to July 2019, in the town of Galashiels, where the incidents occurred.

According to court proceedings, Cossar, who previously served in the armed forces in both Afghanistan and Iraq, committed these heinous acts at various locations within Galashiels. His victims endured a range of brutal assaults, including rape and physical violence, which were proven during a trial held last month. The court heard detailed accounts of the assaults, which left lasting scars on the women involved.

During the sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Beckett addressed Cossar directly, emphasizing the gravity of his crimes and the necessity of his imprisonment. The judge acknowledged Cossar’s military service, noting that he had served his country for a decade before being discharged, reportedly due to his conduct. However, Lord Beckett made it clear that such service did not exempt him from accountability.

He expressed particular concern over the nature of the assaults, especially the violent acts involving seizing and compressing the victims’ necks. Lord Beckett remarked that as a physically fit young man, Cossar inflicted violence on two women who had little chance to defend themselves, highlighting the severity of the offenses.

The court also heard that Cossar had raped both women, with one victim subjected to this assault on multiple occasions. Statements read aloud in court detailed the profound and lasting impact these crimes had on the victims’ lives, emphasizing the