February 2017

Rapist John Costello jailed for abusing young sisters over years

A man who raped a young girl over a five-year period and abused her sister has been jailed.

John Costello, 43, carried out the offences between 1996 and 2000 at addresses in North Lanarkshire and West Lothian.

The High Court in Glasgow heard the girl was raped when she was aged between seven and 12 and that the abuse had had a “devastating affect” on her.

Costello was jailed for 10 years and placed on the sex offenders register.

He had already served jail time after twice being convicted for possessing child sexual abuse images, the court was told.

However, he went on to abuse the girls at various addresses in Rutherglen, Shotts and Livingston.

The court heard that he showed his young rape victim adult pornographic websites and induced her to take part in sexual conversations with adults on internet chat rooms.

Costello also exposed the child to pornographic magazines as well as filming her in sexual activity with him.

He made her sister play indecent computer games and persuaded her to put a provocative photograph of herself online.

Judge Lord Clark told Costello: “You have been convicted of sex abuse against two sisters.

“You raped one of the girls and carried out lewd and libidinous practices against the other girl. The offences were committed between 1996 and 2000 when you were aged between 22 and 26.

“In relation to the girl you raped, your conduct has a long-lasting and devastating effect on her.”

Lord Clark said that a lengthy custodial sentence was necessary to “deter others from sexually abusing young girls.”

Costello , who was placed on the sex offenders register, is already the subject of a life-long supervision order by Hampshire Police as a result of his previous convictions for possessing indecent images.

January 2017

Marks and Spencer’s worker convicted of sexual abuse in Rutherglen

A Marks and Spencer employee was today convicted of repeatedly raping a young girl when she was aged between seven and 12.

John Costello, 43, from Southampton, Hampshire, was also found guilty of sexually abusing the young girl and another girl when she was aged between 10 and 15.

The offences were committed at various addresses in Rutherglen and Shotts , Lanarkshire, and Livingston between 1996 and 2000.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that father-of-four Costello showed his young rape victim adult pornographic websites and induced her to take part in sexual conversations with adults on internet chat rooms.

Sick Costello also made her look at pornographic magazines and made her adopt the sexual poses she saw in them and filmed her taking part in sexual activity with him.

Costello made his other victim play indecent computer games and he persuaded her to put a provocative photograph on her MSN profile.

Judge Lord Clark told Costello: “You have been convicted of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices towards two young girls and the rape of one of them on a number of occasions.

“These are serious and despicable crimes.”

Prosecutor Peter McCormack revealed that Costello has a previous conviction for possession of indecent images of children at Glasgow Sheriff Court for which he received a two year sentence and a similar conviction from Aylesbury Crown Court in 2006 for which he received a three year sentence.

Mr McCormack added: “Mr Costello lives in Southampton and works with Marks and Spencer.”

Lord Clark deferred sentence on Costello until next month for background reports and remanded him in custody.

He also placed Costello on the sex offenders’ register.