The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Fife serial rapist in bid to have sentence and conviction quashed
Neil Ireland was found guilty of offences over seven years
A Fife serial rapist who carried out attacks on four women over seven years is launching an appeal to have his sentence and conviction quashed.
Neil Ireland, 40, was last year found guilty of a string of rapes and sex attacks between January 2008 and December 2015 in Cupar, Methil and Leven.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a judge who described him as a “predator” who “befriended and exploited vulnerable women”.
Lawyers acting for Ireland will appeal at the High Court in Edinburgh this week.
His appeal comes after launching a legal challenge at the Court of Session claiming it is his human right to be allowed to smoke in his cell at Perth Prison.
During the trial his victims were forced to relive their ordeals at the hands of Ireland, from Methil.
Solicitor Iain Paterson said Ireland was a first offender who had demonstrated in the past that he had “an excellent work ethic”.
He said Ireland intended to co-operate with the authorities while serving his prison sentence and would take part in offender programmes.
Judge Lord Uist said in sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh in May last year that Ireland portrayed himself as the victim.
He said: “It was, in my opinion, correctly stated by the Crown at your trial that you were a predator who befriended and exploited vulnerable women by taking advantage of them sexually, not caring whether they consented to what you did to them.
“Moreover, it was clear to me that you considered that you were entitled to act as you did and that you have shown no remorse or regret.
“You must now appreciate the gravity of the crimes of which you have been convicted and I hope that at some point you will come to acknowledge and perhaps even understand the very damaging effect which your crimes have had on your female victims.”
Ireland was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Detective Inspector Jim Leeson, of Fife’s domestic abuse investigation unit, said: “Ireland is a despicable individual who had no thought or care for the welfare of his victims.
“This sentence reflects the serious pain and suffering that he put his victims through between 2008 and 2015.
“Any report of sexual offences will be thoroughly investigated and continues to be a top priority for Police Scotland and I urge anyone who has been a victim of a sexual crime to contact police.”