Uncle of double rapist bidding to change the law

THE uncle of a Dundee man jailed for two rapes and a catalogue of other crimes has launched a campaign to free his nephew from prison.

Kevin McFie was jailed for seven years in 2014 for raping two women, including his wife, and two counts of assault.

But he was also given a lifelong restriction of liberty order (OLR), a life sentence that means he may never be released from prison until the Independent Parole Board is satisfied he no longer poses a risk to the public.

McFie, 34, was jailed at the High Court in Livingston after being found guilty of two counts of rape and assault.

His ex-wife Shelli Knight — who bravely waived her right to anonymity to reveal the years of torture she endured at McFie’s hands — was even subjected to a brutal attack when she was 34 weeks’ pregnant.

Despite McFie’s crimes, his uncle John McHugh said the lifelong restriction order i mposed on his nephew is unfair and wants to change the law.

He said: “My nephew is doing a seven-year stretch in prison. I’m not criticising the sentence but his restriction order means he thinks he could be in prison for 20 years and that’s not fair.”

But Ms Knight said her ex-husband should have received a longer sentence and t hat she would be happy if he spent the rest of his life behind bars. She said: “Seven years was seriously not enough. This is really upsetting.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “It i s important our courts have appropriate sentencing options to deal with highrisk, serious offenders.

“Protecting the public is our top priority and OLRs are a valuable sentencing option for courts to use for higher-risk offenders.”