Fife man accused of string of sex assaults

50-year-old from Kirkcaldy denies charges

A Fife man has gone on trial accused of rape, sexual assaults and violence against women over more than quarter of a century.

Graham Young, 50, of Church Street, Kirkcaldy is being tried at the High Court in Dunfermline.

The 11 charges include the rape of two women.

The offences are alleged to have taken place at various addresses in Dunfermline, East Wemyss, Kelty and other locations in Fife.

It is alleged that on various occasions between October 1 1991 and July 31 2002, in Dunfermline, Halbeath and East Wemyss, he assaulted a woman by punching and striking her on the head and body, seizing her by the neck and compressing it, restricting her breathing and, on occasions, causing her to lose consciousness.

It is also alleged that he cut her hair, struck her with a bicycle, threw a bottle and other objects at her, threatened her with violence, held a knife against her face and body and cut the clothing she was wearing with a knife.

It is alleged that on another occasion when she was pregnant, he punched her on the stomach, all to her injury and to the danger of her life.

It is further alleged that on various occasions, between June 1 1994 and January 31 2000, he raped her. The further allegations include: On an occasion between May 1 1994 and June 30 1994, he assaulted a man by throwing an axe at him.

On an occasion between January 1 and July 4 2000, in Dunfermline, he assaulted a second woman by struggling with her while holding a knife and cut her finger to her injury.

On an occasion between January 1 and December 31 2004, at Abbey View, he assaulted a woman by shouting, swearing and attempting to punch her.

On March 5 2005, in Kelty, he assaulted the same woman by pushing her on to a bed, pulled off her nightdress, pinned her down and raped her.

On various occasions between January 1 and September 3 2008, at a location near Dunfermline Bus Station, The Commercial Inn, Douglas Street, and elsewhere, he assaulted another woman by extinguishing a lit cigarette on her face, threw a drink over her, seized her by the hair and held a knife against her neck, all to her injury.

On various occasions between June 1 and July 17 2015 at Broomhead Drive and Foundry Street, he assaulted another woman, seized her by the wrists, pulled her, pushed her against a wall and, while he believed her to be pregnant, pushed her into a radiator, pushed his knee into her stomach, threatened to kill her unborn child and punched her stomach.

On various occasions between June 8 2016 and January 25 at Islay Road he sexually assaulted a woman and handled her breasts over her clothing.

On January 25 at Islay Road, he sexually assaulted the same woman, lay on top of her, seized hold of her wrists, pinned her down and tried to compel her to touch his private parts.

Young denies the offences and the trial before Lord Woolman continues.

It is alleged that on another occasion when she was pregnant, he punched her on the stomach, all to her injury and to the danger of her life