RAPE THUG JAILED FOR 8 YEARS
Judge told accused had history of violence
A man who raped a woman in her home has been jailed for eight years.
John Kennedy (42) forced himself on the woman while her daughter heard her weeping mother pleading with him to stop, saying: “I’m in agony.”
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Kennedy had earlier been socialising with the victim – who cannot be named for legal reasons – at a pub in Armadale.
But the pervert attacked her at her home, grabbed her by the hair and pinned her against a wall, calling her names before punching her in the face and slamming her head into walls and furniture.
Kennedy then punched his victim so hard she fell into a hall cupboard.
The beast then subjected her to a horrifying sexual assault in December
2008. The court heard how following the assault, the victim looked in a mirror and could see her entire face was swollen. Her eyes were like slits, she had cuts and golf ball-size lumps all over her head and bruises on her hands, arms and ribs.
The court was told it wasn’t the first time Kennedy, from Leyland Road in Bathgate, had been violent and abusive.
He repeatedly assaulted a young girl over an 11year period between 2000 and 2011. The physical abuse began when she was four and continued until she was 15.
Kennedy also attacked a boy aged three, with the child being slapped, pushed and spat on. Both victims cannot also be identified for legal reasons.
Police began investigations in 2014 when the young female victim went to a police station and made a complaint that Kennedy had abused her.
On Monday, Judge Lord Pentland branded Kennedy a “violent bully” and told him he had no other option but to send him to prison.
Ordering Kennedy to be supervised by the authorities for three years following his release from custody, Lord Pentland said: “You are a violent bully who terrorised your victims.
“It is very likely that there will be lasting effects on each of them.
“In my opinion, you lack genuine empathy for any of your victims.
“I have come to the view that in order to maintain public safety – and in particular the safety of women – I require to impose a prison sentence in your case.”
Unemployed Kennedy admitted in court last month that he assaulted and raped the woman in December 2008.
Kennedy also admitted assaulting a girl from the age of four who was pinned down, slapped, pushed and punched and her hair pulled during assaults at addresses in West Lothian and East Renfrewshire.
He further pled guilty to attacking a boy from the age of three with the child being slapped, pushed, struck and spat on.
Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports about Kennedy’s character.
During earlier proceedings, the court heard that when the rape victim first met Kennedy, she described him as “the nicest guy ever” – but Kennedy later attacked the 38- year- old and raped her.
Mr Andrew Brown QC for the prosecution said: “There was a great deal of blood on her face and clothes, on his fists as well as a pool on the floor but it was hers.”
On Monday, defence solicitor advocate Michael Bell told Lord Pentland that his client had participated in “shocking and persistent conduct”.
Mr Bell said his client had spent 20 years battling an alcohol problem and his abuse of drink was one of the reasons why Kennedy had broken the law. He added: “His drinking is now under control.” Mr Bell also asked Lord Pentland to show leniency to his client because Kennedy had pleaded guilty to the offences. Lord Pentland also placed Kennedy on the sex offenders register.