RHYS ROBERTS FROM OCHILTREE SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS FOR RAPE IN GLASGOW COURT

A young man from Ochiltree, Rhys Roberts, has been handed a three-year prison sentence after being convicted of raping a 15-year-old girl. The incident took place in the woods near Ochiltree on May 31, 2019, and has since garnered significant attention from the legal system and the community alike.

According to court reports, Roberts, who was 19 at the time of sentencing, committed the assault over a brief period in a secluded area. The victim, also 15 at the time, was subjected to threats, physical coercion, and ultimately, sexual assault by Roberts. Following the attack, she managed to return home, where she confided in her mother about what had transpired. She then proceeded to report the incident to the police, initiating a criminal investigation that would lead to Roberts’s conviction.

The court proceedings revealed that Roberts had threatened to spread malicious stories about the girl unless she complied with his demands. This coercive behavior was a key factor in the jury’s decision to find him guilty of rape, along with other charges under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009. The verdict was delivered by a jury, and Lord Young presided over the sentencing.

During the sentencing hearing at the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Young emphasized the gravity of Roberts’s actions and the profound impact on the victim. He highlighted the emotional trauma, feelings of guilt, and self-blame that the girl continues to experience. The judge described Roberts’s conduct as predatory, noting that his behavior was calculated and involved physical force and threats.

Lord Young stated, “Rhys Roberts, you have been found guilty, by a majority verdict of the jury, of a single charge which included contraventions of sections 1, 2 & 5 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009. These offences were all committed over a period of a few minutes on 31 May 2019 and involved a single victim. The most serious of these offences is a charge of rape.”

He further explained that Roberts was close to his 16th birthday at the time of the assault, while the victim was also 15. Now aged 19, Roberts was sentenced to three years in a detention facility, with the sentence backdated to May 5, 2023. The judge acknowledged Roberts’s youth and relative immaturity at the time of the offence but concluded that custody was necessary to serve justice and societal disapproval.

Lord Young also discussed the importance of rehabilitation, stating that the sentence aimed to balance punishment with the potential for reform. He noted that Roberts comes from a supportive family, has a good work record, and has not previously been involved in criminal activity. However, concerns about his lack of empathy for the victim and refusal to accept responsibility were also considered.

The court recognized the victim’s ongoing emotional struggles, which she attributes, at least in part, to the assault. Her victim impact statement detailed her difficulties with emotional issues and her feelings of guilt for not resisting more or calling for help. The contrast between her willingness to accept responsibility and Roberts’s denial was stark.

In conclusion, Lord Young emphasized that the custodial sentence was necessary not only as a punishment but also to uphold the community’s standards and to promote Roberts’s rehabilitation. As a result of his conviction, Roberts is now subject to indefinite notification requirements under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, reflecting the seriousness of his crime and the need for ongoing monitoring.