STEVEN THAIN OF ELGIN SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS FOR SEX OFFENSES IN MORAY

In May 2016, Steven Thain, a 26-year-old man from Elgin, was sentenced to 11 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple sexual offenses involving girls in Moray. Thain was convicted on eight charges related to attacks spanning from 2002 to 2014, a period of 12 years. The court had previously ordered his detention as a 19-year-old for abuse committed when he was just 12.

The trial was held at the High Court in Edinburgh, where Judge Lord Armstrong emphasized that custody was necessary. During proceedings, Thain claimed that the victims had fabricated their stories, stating that the females involved had been telling "big lies." In response, Lord Armstrong described the crimes as "disturbing and grave," and read a victim impact statement that highlighted the lasting harm caused by Thain's actions, noting the statement as "an eloquent exposition of the devastating and lasting effect of your conduct on her life."

The judge also noted Thain’s criminal history, which includes convictions for three assault charges and one for lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices and behaviors. Despite his denial of guilt, Thain refused to accept responsibility for his actions.

Earlier, in March 2016, Thain was also convicted on similar grounds after a trial at the same court. It was revealed that Thain molested girls from the age of 13, with offenses lasting over a decade. He previously received a three-year detention order in 2008 for sex crimes against children but re-entered the criminal justice system after serving 18 months, continuing his offending.

Thain’s victims included a 14 or 15-year-old girl he assaulted in 2010 by pulling her into a house, pushing her against a wall, and raping her after removing her trousers. In the same year, he attacked another girl aged 13 at a different location, raping her under similar circumstances. His offending persisted until 2014, when he attempted to rape a teenager at another residence, offering her money to see her naked, then pushing her onto a bed and hitting her.

During the trial, Thain’s lawyer argued that his actions should be considered exceptional due to his young age at the time of the offenses and claimed he was a child when he committed them. Nonetheless, Lord Woolman, who sentenced Thain in 2008, emphasized the importance of protecting children from sexual abuse, stating, "The protection of children from sexual abuse is of vital importance to society."

At the recent trial, Thain maintained that he had no idea why the victims claimed to have been abused, stating to his lawyer, Gary Allan QC, that he "had no idea why they’ve said those things." When asked by prosecutor Ian Wallace if the victims had lied, Thain responded, "Yes," and about the lies, he said, "Yes, big lies."

Following his conviction, Thain was remanded in custody while awaiting sentencing, which was scheduled for the following month. Judge Lord Armstrong noted the extensive criminal conduct from 2002 to 2014 involved in these "grave charges" and considered imposing an extended sentence, including imprisonment followed by supervision. A background report and risk assessment were ordered before the final sentencing, and Thain was placed on the sex offenders’ register.