I’LL DRINK TO THAT Residents say rapist has been moved to village
MSP John Swinney vows to investigate case
John Swinney MSP has vowed to investigate on behalf of a Perthshire community who believe a convicted rapist has been moved into a home in the village.
Residents in Birnam claim they are living next to a man who was previously jailed for 10 years for raping and assaulting five women.
They have now started a petition calling for the man to be removed.
Mr Swinney, the MSP for Perthshire North, explained he was meeting with all those involved to see what he could do to help.
He said: “I have been contacted by several constituents regarding this issue, and have consequently raised their concerns with both Police Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council.
“I have asked to meet with representatives of Police Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council to discuss this matter further, and it is my hope that they will engage substantively on this issue.”
Police and representatives from PKC’s housing team took a barrage of questions about why it was considered safe to place a man who apparently terrified his victims with violent threats on a street where children, single mums and old people live.
The community met socially distanced in the park last Friday to discuss the arrival and how their lives were already being affected.
The person who set up the online petition asking Perth and Kinross Council to have the man moved away said: “None of us feel safe in our own homes any more. We don’t feel safe to walk our dogs in our usual routes as they are mostly in areas like woods, instead we have to stick to public streets.
“We don’t feel safe letting our daughters go out on their own anymore. We don’t feel safe walking home alone at night from work.
“We don’t feel safe walking alone at all.”
The PA was told in the 10 days since the man moved in, 260 names have been added to the petition.
One woman explained that her family were “deeply intimidated” by the new arrival.
“My son-in-law phoned the council with his concerns, and they said ‘what’s the problem? The man has done his time inside and he has to have a place to live like anyone else.’ It’s unbelievable,” she said.
“This is a quiet spot in Highland Perthshire, this is not the place to put a person like him.
“I think this is disgusting that the council can do this. Our street is for elderly, disabled people, we have families with babies, how can they put ex cons amongst us?
“I don’t care if he has served his sentence. What he did to those ladies, he should never have been let out of jail.
“My granddaughter is frightened and deeply intimidated.
“We are all absolutely horrified.
“There is a mum with young kids living near him.
“Knowing what he has done and served time in jail for makes her very scared.
“She has said to the council ‘either he moves or I will have to’.”
The Birnam resident continued: “They have stuck this man in an area full of pensioners. I know of an elderly woman living with her daughter who is terrified to be left alone when her daughter goes out to work. She’s locking herself in till someone comes home every day, living in a state of fear.”
The PA contacted Perth and Kinross Council to explain the situation.
A council spokesperson said: “Perth and Kinross Council cannot comment on individual cases, however, all allocations of our properties are made in accordance with our allocations policy which fully considers the needs of the individual and the wider community.”