Predator jailed for party sex attacks

A REMORSELESS predator who sexually assaulted four sleeping women at properties in Dundee has been jailed.

John Mulholland preyed on his victims during a horrific nine-year campaign.

A jury heard there were similarities between each of the women’s ordeals.

All four attacks took place after a social gathering or party, where drink had been consumed.

Mulholland forced himself upon his first victim, by indecently touching her, on October 22 2011.

He struck again in a similar manner at another address in the city in March 2019 when he forced himself on to a woman, despite being told to stop.

He attacked two more women on January 1 2020 and February 2 last year.

Jurors found him guilty of all four charges after days of traumatic evidence.

Mulholland, of Dunmore Street, maintains his innocence.

The 32-year-old appeared in Perth Sheriff Court via video link from prison for sentencing.

Sheriff William Wood told him: “During the course of this trial, four separate and individual young women gave evidence about four distinct and separate occasions.

“You sexually assaulted them at a time when there had been something of a social gathering before, when a considerable amount of alcohol had been taken and when they were asleep. They were unable to provide any consent.

“There was clearly some distress having to relive these incidents during the course of the trial.

“And in respect of some of these complainers, there was a breach of trust. They thought of you as an acquaintance and in one case in particular, a friend.

“Despite that, you behaved in this predatory way when they were incapable of providing consent.”

Sheriff Wood added: “You have shown no remorse for these offences. Given all of these circumstances, only a custodial sentence is going to be appropriate.”

Mulholland was jailed for 32 months and will stay on the sex offenders register for life.

Solicitor David Duncan, defending, said: “Realistically, I am not in a position to advance any mitigation for these offences because Mr Mulholland maintains he is not responsible for them. He does, however, acknowledge the decision of the jury.”

He added that a background report had identified issues of “life and relationships” that his client could work on.