DUMFRIES SEX OFFENDER STEVEN MCMATH SENTENCED FOR RAPE CRIMES IN DUMFRIES AND EDINBURGH

A man accused of multiple sexual assaults, including repeated rapes of two women, has been handed a significant prison sentence. Steven McMath, aged 24 and formerly residing in Dumfries, was found guilty of two separate rape charges in his hometown after he denied the allegations during his trial.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Fairley described the crimes committed by McMath as 'very serious' and emphasized the profound and lasting impact on the victims involved. The court heard that McMath raped his first victim approximately ten times over the course of September and November 2018. These assaults involved sexually abusing her while she was asleep and continuing the abuse even after she regained consciousness, highlighting a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

In addition to these offenses, McMath was convicted of raping a second woman once between August 2020 and January 2021. This victim was pregnant at the time, and the assault occurred after McMath demanded sex from her. The court was informed that these acts inflicted significant trauma on both women, with their victim impact statements underscoring the severity of the harm caused.

Defense lawyer Callum Hiller maintained that McMath continued to assert his innocence, pointing out that he was a first-time offender and a young man who had begun offending as a teenager. Despite this, the court sentenced McMath to five years in prison, complemented by an additional three years of supervised release on license. Furthermore, he was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes.

Detective Inspector Kelly Douglas commented on McMath’s apparent lack of remorse and praised the bravery of the victims. She also issued a reminder to the public, encouraging anyone experiencing domestic or sexual abuse to reach out to authorities or partner agencies for support and assistance.

During the sentencing hearing, Lord Fairley imposed an extended sentence of eight years in total. The custodial component of this sentence is five years, with an extended license period of three years. The judge highlighted that McMath’s relationships with his victims were characterized by controlling and abusive behavior, which compounded the gravity of his offenses.

Lord Fairley noted that McMath was convicted of two separate charges of rape committed against two different women, both of whom were in relationships with him at the time. The first victim was raped approximately ten times over three months, while the second was assaulted once during her pregnancy. The judge acknowledged the profound emotional and psychological impact on the victims, as detailed in their statements.

In his remarks, Lord Fairley emphasized that McMath’s actions were particularly troubling given his young age at the time of offending. He also considered the social work report and the defense’s arguments, which suggested that immaturity may have contributed to his behavior. Nonetheless, the judge stressed that these were very serious crimes and that the risk of further harm justified a lengthy custodial sentence.

He explained that the extended sentence includes both a custodial period and a post-release supervision extension, designed to protect the public from potential future harm. The custodial term is backdated to April 25, 2024, when McMath was first remanded. The extended license period will be served in the community, with conditions set by the Scottish Ministers. Failure to comply with these conditions could result in revocation of his license and re-imprisonment. Additionally, McMath will remain subject to indefinite notification requirements as a sex offender, and his name has been added to the list of individuals deemed unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups.

Finally, the court issued non-harassment orders prohibiting McMath from contacting or attempting to contact either of the victims for a period of eight years, further safeguarding their well-being from any potential intimidation or harassment.