WILLIAM FRASER FROM THURSO SENTENCED IN EDINBURGH FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AND EXTORTION

A man named William Fraser, aged 51 and originally from Thurso, was sentenced to nine years in prison following a conviction for serious sexual offences, extortion, and related abusive behaviour. The case unfolded after Fraser was initially released on appeal just a week before he was scheduled to stand trial for rape and extortion charges. His criminal conduct spanned several months, during which he targeted a woman with whom he engaged in repeated sexual abuse and manipulation.

Fraser subjected his victim to a prolonged campaign of exploitation, which included threats to distribute intimate photographs and videos of her on social media unless she paid him money. The victim, whose suffering was detailed in a statement read out in court, described feeling trapped and unsafe within her own home—an environment that should have been her sanctuary. The judge at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Scott, condemned Fraser’s actions, emphasizing that he exploited her vulnerability to satisfy his own desires for sex and financial gain.

Lord Scott highlighted the serious and ongoing impact Fraser’s behaviour had inflicted on the woman, noting that her emotional well-being had been severely damaged. The court heard that Fraser’s conduct involved controlling and exploitative tactics, including emotional, sexual, and financial abuse. He took her mobile phone, monitored her contacts, and dictated her food choices, further asserting his dominance over her life. Fraser also committed acts of sexual assault, some of which occurred while the woman was asleep, and he attempted to remove her contraceptive coil without her consent.

In addition to the sexual offences, Fraser was convicted of photographing the woman’s breasts and private parts while she was sleeping, and he threatened to post these images online if she did not comply with his demands for money. During the course of the investigation, Fraser also sent offensive and menacing messages to two other women in 2020. His behaviour extended beyond the sexual realm, as he was found guilty of breaching a bail order by being in the company of the victim in June 2020, and of obstructing police officers in Thurso when he ran from them that same month.

During the trial, Fraser maintained his innocence on the seven main charges, denying all allegations and attempting to shift blame onto his victim. His defence counsel, Paul Nelson KC, acknowledged Fraser’s difficult upbringing but emphasized that Fraser continued to deny involvement in the offences. Despite his denials, the court found him guilty of multiple charges, including rape, sexual assault, and controlling behaviour.

In sentencing, Lord Scott pointed out Fraser’s pattern of manipulative and abusive conduct, which caused significant harm to the victim. Fraser, who previously resided on Rotterdam Street in Thurso, was ordered to be placed under supervision for an additional two years after his release, with strict conditions that could see him returned to prison if breached. The court also noted that Fraser’s earlier prison sentence was replaced by a community payback order just a week before his trial, a fact that raised concerns about the transparency of his case presentation.

Furthermore, Fraser was ordered to register as a sex offender for an indefinite period, with the notification requirement lasting at least three years. His criminal record now includes convictions for online grooming, causing a child to watch a sexual act, and engaging in sexual communication with a minor. Fraser was arrested on October 7, 2022, and initially sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on November 28, 2023. An appeal against this sentence was granted on February 14, 2024, resulting in the sentence being reduced to a three-year supervision order with 200 hours of unpaid work to be completed within a year.

Authorities and the court commended the efforts of all involved in bringing Fraser to justice, emphasizing the importance of protecting victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and support for vulnerable individuals subjected to such heinous crimes.