Man guilty of rape is jailed for six years

COURT: Victims said Steven Devery had molested them while they were asleep

A man who raped a woman was jailed for six years after his victim denounced his attack as “disgusting” years afterwards.

The woman went to police last year sparking an investigation into Steven Devery, 45, after making the comment during a Facebook conversation.

Devery, of Glenlyon Place, Leven, denied raping the woman while she was asleep and under the influence of an unknown substance at a house in Leven between January 2004 and December 2005.

However, a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh found him guilty of the rape and of a previous sex attack on a teenager at a house in Methil committed between December 2000 and November 2001.

He was acquitted of a further indecent assault between January 2005 and December 2006 when he was alleged to have pushed a third woman against a wall and touched her breasts and buttocks at a house in Leven.

Trial judge Lord Armstrong said a victim impact statement from the woman who was raped clearly set out the very negative impact Devery’s actions had on her life.

The judge said a background report on Devery indicated he continued to deny his guilt, took no responsibility for what he had done nor shown any empathy for the victims.

The rape victim, now aged 36, rejected a claim that she and Devery had got into a bed at the house in Leven and both fell asleep and nothing had happened.

The victim of the earlier indecent assault said she had been staying over at the house in Methil with her then boyfriend and Devery had been in the same room after he had been drinking and smoking cannabis.

The woman, now aged 32, said that she woke up to find Devery molesting her.

Advocate depute Richard GoddardearliertoldthecourtthatDevery had learning difficulties following a brain injury and was registered disabled.

The court heard Devery has previous convictions for possessing cannabis and ecstasy linked to attending raves in Scotland.

Defence solicitor Dana Forbes said: “There is no indication there was any violence or threats of violence involved in these offences.”

She said Devery was “extremely fearful” of a prison sentence and added: “He has struggled to come to terms with the prospect of a custodial sentence.”

Devery has been held in jail since November 1 after failing to attend at his trial.

Miss Forbes said that since he has been in custody he has refrained from using ecstasy and heroin.

She added that on his release from prison he intended moving to Dundee.

Devery was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

He has struggled to come to termswith the prospect of a custodial sentence. DANA FORBES DEFENCE SOLICITOR

Steven Devery was sentenced to six years in jail and had his name placed on the sex offenders register.