COUNTY MAN STUART MURRAY JAILED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND ABUSE
A WEE COUNTY rapist who attacked his former partner during a catalogue of abuse has been jailed for eight and a half years.Stuart Murray assaulted her at a property in Kirkcaldy, Fife in 2016.He had already tried to rape another female before going on to sexually assault a third woman while on bail.The 31 year-old appeared at the High Court in Glasgow for sentencing last week, having been convicted of rape, attempted rape, assault and sexual assault last month.Lord Kinclaven told him: "The jury rejected your special defence of consent.There is no alternative to a significant custodial sentence."The Alloa man then shouted "lying b******" towards people sitting in the public benches as he was lead handcuffed to the cells.Murray had denied the crimes during a last month's High Court trial.Before the rape, he had already struck in 2010.Jurors heard he attempted to rape his then partner in Tillicoultry.
He later went on to physically assault the traumatised victim.Murray had also faced other allegations against the woman – including attacking her in hospital while she was in labour.
But, the charges were dropped during the trial.In 2016, Murray carried out a sex attack on a third woman at a house in Leven, Fife.Murray was on bail at the time from Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court.Last week, the court heard that he already had a lengthy criminal past including convictions for assault and breach of the peace.As well as the jail-term, Murray was also placed on the sex offenders list.Speaking after Murray's conviction last month, Detective Inspector Jim Leeson, of Fife's DAIU, paid tribute to the "bravery of those women who came forward." He added: "Over the course of six years, Stuart Murray subjected three separate women to prolonged periods of physical, emotional and sexual abuse.
He has demonstrated himself to be a callous and predatory individual with no remorse for the impact his crimes have had on his victims."The officer continued: "Tackling domestic crime in all its forms remains one of Police Scotland's top priorities and whenever these offences are brought to our attention we will conduct a thorough investigation to bring perpetrators to justice."
