Locked up, rapist who tried to use character references to walk free
AN Army cadet who raped a teenage girl at a school has been locked up for three years.
Glenn Riddell, 18, was last night behind bars despite a lengthy plea in mitigation by his lawyer.
Riddell pounced on his then 17-year-old victim one evening at Bannockburn High School, Stirlingshire, in November 2016.
Yesterday, the High Court in Glasgow was told a clutch of testimonials had been written in support of the sex attacker, including from an Army major, a principal teacher and a firm of lawyers.
But judge Graeme Buchanan told Riddell, who was found guilty of rape last month, that custody was the only ‘appropriate’ sentence.
He said: ‘You have been convicted of a very serious offence which involved a nasty attack on your victim.
‘It must be a matter of great shock to your family that you have ended up in this situation – convicted of rape at the High Court.’
The judge added that Riddell, of Stirling, ‘took advantage’ of his victim.
He was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
The young rapist, whose family have a military background, mouthed ‘I love you’ to weeping relatives as he was led handcuffed to the cells.
Before the rape, the victim had been out with a friend. She later ended up with Riddell at the school before being attacked. The court heard the effect of her ordeal had been ‘long-lasting’.
Drew McKenzie, defending, said it was ‘one of these exceptional cases’ where an ‘alternative to custody’ was an option.
He added that the attack had been ‘utterly out of character’ for the teenager.
Mr McKenzie said Riddell had been with the Army cadets since the age of 12 and had been promoted to corporal.
He told the judge of a number of references written on Riddell’s behalf.
They included a testimonial from a major with the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
A senior teacher at a local high school described the sex attacker as ‘charming’ and ‘caring’.
An unnamed firm of solicitors also wrote a letter of support after he carried out a work placement.
Mr McKenzie said the rape conviction had ended Riddell’s hopes of a military career.