April 2014

Predatory paedophile who sexually assaulted a 15-year-old schoolboy in his bed is jailed

A predatory paedophile who sexually assaulted a 15-year-old schoolboy in his bed has been jailed for more than a year

John Law showed no emotion as he was sentenced to 58 weeks in prison at Livingston Sheriff Court.

Law (29) of Shotts, North Lanarkshire, earlier pled guilty to getting into bed with the schoolboy on three separate occasions.

Law who worked behind bars and ran local discos repeatedly groped the boy and forced him to perform sex acts, the court heard.

The offences took place at various addresses in Fauldhouse, West Lothian between March 1 and April 30, 2013.

Kevin Dugan, defending, said Law lacked proper insight into his offending.

“He really doesn’t quite see that the victim here is a victim.

He’s certainly a young man who takes this whole matter very seriously, albeit he’s in denial of his full guilt.

“In this type of offence, people don’t see themselves in the correct light when they don’t want to see themselves in a bad light.

Mr Dugan claimed Law, a first offender, had “difficulties with his sexuality” and had attempted to take his own life.

He had been detained in a psychiatric ward since his first court appearance on March 10.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Donald Ferguson told Law: “What you did was something very harmful to a young person.

“It seems to me that in the circumstances a custodial sentence is called for.”

Outside court the teenager’s relatives celebrated the jail sentence by punching the air and whooping with joy.

The schoolboy’s aunt accused Law of taking advantage of the boy’s mother after she split from her partner.

The aunt – who can’t be named to protect the youngster’s identity – said: “She was on a low.

“This predator decided to help her, but he took advantage of her son in the boy’s own home.”

She claimed the teenager, who had been no trouble before, had started misbehaving since becoming Law’s victim.

She said: “He’s a repeated predator and a repeated offender. He might have no convictions but that’s because it’s the first time it’s been reported.”