Girl Raped As Youth Freed Early From Offenders’ Institution

A youth attacked and raped a teenager three weeks after he was released early from a young offenders’ institution.

The High Court in Glasgow yesterday heard that James Campbell launched the attack on his 17-year-old victim as she slept in an Airdrie homeless unit.

Kath Harper, prosecuting, said: “She woke up to find she was being assaulted by the accused who was naked. He was punching her on the face.

“He said he wanted sex and she told him no. Despite this, he raped her.”

Campbell, also 17, admitted grabbing the girl by the hair, repeatedly punching her on the head and body, and then raping her on February 15.

The court was told that Campbell, who had been released from Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution on an assault and robbery charge on January 24, was living at the homeless unit.

When the girl arrived there, he chatted to her and tried to have sex with her, but she said no. However, she allowed him to sleep in her room and at around 5am she woke to find him assaulting her.

Ms Harper told the court that the 17-year-old had cuts and bruises on her face and arms. Initially when interviewed by police, Campbell claimed they had had consensual sex. He told officers he was unable to account for her injuries.

Judge Lord Johnston placed Campbell on the sex offenders’ register and deferred sentence until next month for background reports and a risk assessment. His defence counsel Fiona Davies will give her plea in mitigation then.

Campbell had been on licence when he attacked the teenager, having earlier been sentenced to 18 months’ detention for assault and robbery.

The system of early release has been fiercely criticised recently and led to the creation of new legislation earlier this year that requires prisoners to prove they are safe to be released.

Bill Aitken, justice spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: “This is another classic illustration of the folly of the present early-release policies. If this youth had been detained to serve his full sentence, this rape would not have happened.”

An Executive spokesman said ministers wanted sentences to be more consistent and transparent.