Serial rapist, branded a danger, jailed for just 10 years. Then freed to attack again
Campaigners say women’s safety ignored
A serial rapist jailed for a series of brutal attacks was freed from jail to offend again.
Campaigners are now demanding to know why Calum McLeod was released and able to target another victim.
McLeod, 37, was just 15 when he was jailed for five violent rapes and sexual assaults in 1995.
He was jailed for 10 years – causing concern among social workers and activists that the sentence was too light.
Prison psychologists, doctors and police also warned McLeod was still a threat to women when he was released in 2005.
McLeod was convicted at Glasgow Sheriff Court this month of attacking a woman in the city’s Battlefield last August.
He pled guilty to following his victim as she walked along Battlefield Road and making crude remarks.
The victim screamed and was only saved when security guards from the nearby Victoria Infirmary came to her aid.
Politicians and campaigners have demanded to know what checks were made to monitor the offender’s behaviour and why he was freed in the first place.
Labour shadow justice spokeswoman Claire Baker said: “This is an absolutely horrific case which raises real questions about our court system.
“Multiple experts made the case that Calum McLeod was still a threat to women and yet, when he returned to the streets, he offended again.
“Hard questions need to be asked about what checks were put in place regarding McLeod when he was released.”
Sandy Brindley from Rape Crisis Scotland said it was “hard to understand” how someone assessed as a risk to women could be freed to attack again.
She added: “The safety of women must be given priority in decisions around the sentencing of rapists.”
Tory shadow justice secretary Douglas Ross said: “Clearly there were warning signs prior to his release and we now have another victim who has been assaulted.
“We need to ensure that people are rehabilitated behind bars but if there are doubts about the chances of re-offending in this way, the protection of the public must be the number one priority.”
But a Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Sentencing is a matter for the courts.”
During McLeod’s original terror spree, he seized women and dragged them off the street before subjecting them to horrendous sexual assaults.
Police and victims had thought the attacker was a man in his twenties, but instead he turned out to be 15 and a resident of a nearby children’s home.
He raped a 31-year-old secretary after dragging her into a close and threatening to kill her. The victim was then dragged by the hair, barefoot and bleeding, through to the back court to be raped again.
He fled when disturbed but returned to kick her twice in the head in an attack a police officer described as the worst she had ever seen.
Later the same night, he pounced on two more victims, assaulting a 35-year-old social worker then trying to drag an 18-year-old schoolgirl into a close.
In psychiatric and psychological interviews, McLeod showed no clear signs of remorse or any clear understanding of why he had behaved in the way he did.
Donald Findlay QC, who represented McLeod during his first trial, said his crimes were some of the most appalling he had ever dealt with.
Sentencing on McLeod for his latest attack was initially deferred in December for a psychiatric report.
But when he returned to the dock on Friday, February 3, Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC was unable to deal with the case because McLeod had sacked his lawyer and the case was adjourned.
Sheriff Johnston said: “All periods in custody will be taken in to consideration.”