Four years for teen who raped 12-year-old

Walker plied his victim with booze in drinking game

A teenager who raped a 12–year old girl after plying her with alcohol during a drinking game has been caged for four years.

Dylan Walker, 19, will be subject to strict supervision by social workers and police for a further two years following his release from prison.

In addition, he was told his name will remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

A jury was told earlier that Walker, whose address is given as Moore House, West Lothian, raped one of his two victims at an address in Stirling between January 1 and February 29, 2016, when he himself was 16–years old.

The girl told how Walker played a card game with her and whoever lost had to down an alcoholic drink. She said she lost most of the time.

Walker was also found guilty of sexually abusing a 13–year old girl by pinning her down and groping her on various occasions in Stirling between June 1 and July 4, 2014 when he was aged just 14.

Drew McKenzie, defending, told the High Court at Livingston on Tuesday that Walker’s childhood had been blighted by “sustained exposure to abuse, neglect and trauma”.

He admitted that the teen rapist had shown little empathy about the effect of his abuse on his victims, adding that his client had found it difficult to express his own feelings.

Mr McKenzie urged the judge to impose a “short” sentence with appropriate license conditions following the accused’s release to help Walker reintegrate into society.

Passing sentence, Judge Lord Arthurson told the accused: “You have been found guilty of crimes concerning offending against ... children.

“The risk represented by you of further sexual offending against adult and adolescent females is high.

“I have concluded that you present a high risk of causing serious harm and detention is necessary to protect the public.”

The judge said he took into account Walker’s young age at the time of offending, his lack of any criminal record and his difficult upbringing.

He added: “You’ll appreciate that such is the gravity of the offences before the court, particularly your offending behaviour in respect of the crime of rape, there’s no alternative to a substantial custodial sentence.”

During his trial at the High Court in Glasgow in August, both of Walker’s victims said they had reported to the police what he had done to them.

Walker did not give evidence, but denied both the charges against him.

After the sentencing, a spokesperson for NSPCC Scotland said: “There is something particularly shocking about a child being sexually abused by another young person.

“Survivors of sexual abuse need to know they will be listened to and supported when they talk to the authorities and we hope this case will give others the confidence to speak out and seek justice.

“NSPCC Scotland works in schools and in the community to prevent abuse and anyone worried about a child can contact our helpline on 0808 800 5000 to report concerns.”