Papergirl Abducted For Rape Bid

A man has admitted abducting a young girl and tying her up during a rape attempt in an Aberdeenshire town. James Murison forced the girl, who is under 16, into his house in Huntly while she was delivering newspapers.

He made her remove her clothes, put a pillowcase over her head and sexually assaulted her in January. Police saved her when she was reported missing. Murison, 44, admitted assault with intent to rape. Sentence was deferred for background reports.

The girl’s relatives said later they were “proud” of how she had handled the “awful” trauma. The abduction happened in Huntly on 3 January during a morning paper round.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Murison seized hold of her, forced her into the house, locked the door and pulled her up the stairs. After forcing her to remove her clothes he bound her wrists and ankles.

He also placed a gag over her mouth, kissed her, sexually assaulted her, removed his clothing and lay on top of her with intent to rape her, all to her injury.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice told the court: “She recalls finding the house in darkness and hearing the house door being locked behind her.”

Mr Prentice said that at the top of the stairs she was directed by Murison to a bedroom and told to remove her clothes and lie on a bed. He told the court: “She complied with this, fearing for safety.”

First offender Murison, who lived alone, went into a wardrobe and took out what seemed to be lengths of thick ribbon which he used to tie his victim’s wrists behind her back and bind her ankles.

The girl repeatedly asked him why he was doing this and was told to “shut up”, the court heard. He then put a pillowcase over her head and sexually abused her. When he was out the room she managed to free one of her hands and then her feet and tried to climb out the bedroom window, while screaming loudly for help.

Police who arrived after being alerted rescued the girl and Murison was arrested. The advocate depute said Murison was asked how long he planned to keep his victim and replied: “As long as it was possible – for a day.”

Mr Prentice said: “The whole matter must have been a substantial trauma. It is impossible to say what the long term impact will be. She finds it very difficult being in bed as this reminds her of this incident. She has reported that when in bed at night she can see the accused and can smell him.”

The judge, Lord Hodge, deferred sentence on Murison until 3 May at the High Court in Aberdeen. He told Murison: “You have been convicted of a very serious sexual offence against a child. Your abduction and attempted rape of this child was a sordid and disgraceful abuse. It is such an outrageous way to treat a young girl.”

The judge said he would also seek a risk report from a psychologist, and Murison was placed on the sex offenders register. The girl’s family said in a statement through Grampian Police: “Our daughter and sister was subjected to a frightening and horrific ordeal over a number of hours.

“She was obviously terrified for her own safety but nevertheless had the composure and presence of mind to try to raise the alarm. We are extremely proud of how she conducted herself on that awful day. The only consolation is that Murison has pled guilty and saved her from having to go through the further ordeal of giving evidence against him in court.”

They thanked police for rescuing her from Murison.