Rapist ex-cop walks free ... straight into his victims’ backyard
VICTIMS of a rapist police officer have hit out after he was freed and allowed to return to the area where he attacked three women.
Former sergeant Kevin Storey, 52, who was jailed for nine years, had pleaded to return to the community where he grew up and later served as a police officer – despite one of his victims making an emotional appeal to the Parole Board for Scotland to stop him.
On Friday morning, the disgraced officer, who was due for automatic release after serving two-thirds of his sentence, emerged from HMP Dumfries wearing a mask and was driven home to the Borders.
One victim said: ‘I’m scared and horrified. His victims are already living with a lifetime of anguish without having to worry we’ll suddenly come face to face with him.’
As a registered sex offender, Storey must tell police within 72 hours of his release where he will live.
It is understood that the former sergeant has 20 bail conditions – the average is between five and eight – including that he will stay away from victims and their families.
Storey, 6ft 4in and 19st at the time of the offences, was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2014 of eight charges of rape, attempted rape and assault against three women.
He was sentenced to 12 years, which was cut to nine on appeal, and was due for automatic release after serving six years.
Last night, his victim said that she had ‘grave concerns’ about how he would be monitored when some of the police officers tasked with his day-to-day risk management previously worked with him in Galashiels, Roxburghshire. She added: ‘What assurance can Police Scotland give that they can rely on an impartial response if Storey is involved in an incident?’
Scottish Tory justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: ‘The criminal justice system owes a duty of care to the victims of these crimes. It is unacceptable that a man convicted of rape and sexual assaults can be released into the same community.’
Last year, The Mail on Sunday revealed that three serving officers – a superintendent, a chief inspector and a sergeant – faced criminal proceedings over claims that they orchestrated a cover-up over Storey. A female former constable among his victims alleged that senior ranks had tried to conceal information.
The alleged cover-up over Storey, who was a Right Worshipful Master in his local masonic lodge, is said to have taken place between 2011 and 2014 in Hawick-based G Division of what was then Lothian and Borders Constabulary.
Despite two investigations, the Crown Office decided not to proceed. However, one victim has now won a review of both investigations after appealing the decision.
The Crown Office said: ‘A report from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, and a separate report from Merseyside Police, are being considered by the Criminal Allegations Against the Police division of COPFS [Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service].’
Storey’s movements will be overseen by multi-agency public protection arrangements, which include input from the local authority as well as the police.
Police Scotland declined to comment ‘as the matter is now with the Crown Office’.