Blind rapist guilty of school attacks

A man was convicted yesterday of raping and sexually assaulting blind childrenwhilehewasaschoolboy.

From the age of 12, David Penman sexually assaulted numerous pupils at the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh. All of his victims, male and female, are blind or partially sighted, as he is. Penman, now 42, attended the school between 1986 and 1991.

Detective Inspector Kevin Harkins, of Edinburgh’s Divisional Rape Investigation Unit, said: “This is an extremely unusual and disturbing case where a boy began committing the most serious sexual crimes against numerous classmates at the age of just 12. Penman’s victims were amongst the most vulnerable young people.” In February 2015, Penman was charged with 17 offences of rape, indecent assault and breach of the peace.