Sex Offender Facing Deportation

An Indonesian national has been recommended for deportation after a string of sex offences in Galashiels. Home Secretary John Reid will now decide whether Amelio Ximenes, 22, is sent back to Portugal, where he came from after becoming an EU citizen. He attacked a woman in Channel Street, Galashiels, on 31 July, 2004, and followed two other women in October. His defence denied he posed a high risk of reoffending but the sheriff at Selkirk recommended deportation.

Ximenes moved from his home at Kilnknowe Caravan Park to Oxford following the offences. Defence lawyer Greig McDonnel pointed out that Ximenes had stayed out of trouble following his move to a stable address in Oxford.

He argued that he had already been punished with a four-and-a-half month jail sentence and placement on the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years at a court hearing a fortnight ago.

However, Sheriff Kevin Drummond recommended that Ximenes be deported.