June 2003

CHILD RAPIST JAILED

A FARM worker who raped and sexually assaulted girls as young as 11 during a 16-year campaign of abuse has been jailed for eight years.

Brian Soutar (55) was sentenced at the High Court in Perth last Wednesday after admitting abusing two young girls between 1983 and 1999.

Soutar, of Kennoway, raped one girl before her 12th birthday at a farm cottage in Anstruther. He also admitted a second charge of raping the girl again, at his home, when she was aged 15.

Soutar further admitted to charges of having unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl on numerous occasions between December 1984 and December 1987. He also used lewd and indecent practices towards a second girl, aged 12, between April and September 1999.

Lord Osborne, presiding, imposed sentences totalling 31 years for the five offences but ordered they be served concurrently.

He told Soutar: ”The fact is you have pled guilty to charges which are very serious indeed, including the rape of an 11-year-old girl.

”You are a first offender but I consider you constitute a risk to young people and a substantial prison sentence is necessary.”