100 sex predators freed ... to prey on new victims
RECORD numbers of paedophiles and rapists are reoffending after being released from our jails.
More than 100 predators were convicted of violent or sexual crimes last year in Scotland despite supposedly being monitored by police and social workers.
The latest data also shows 4,600 registered sex offenders (RSOs) are now living in our communities.
In 2021/22, however, an unprecedented 114 were back in the dock for further serious crimes.
They include Jason Graham, who killed Glasgow OAP Esther Brown after being released early from prison for raping a retired nurse.
Meanwhile, high-risk child rapist Kenneth Gibson faces an indefinite jail term next month for attacking two police officers and abducting a female motorist at knifepoint, shortly after being freed from jail.
In 2010, Iain Livingstone – now Police Scotland’s chief constable – questioned why serial reoffender Gibson had been let out of jail when he was still a danger to the public.
Last night, Conservative MSP Russell Findlay blasted SNP Ministers for putting the public at risk with a ‘soft-touch justice system’.
He said: ‘Victims’ lives are shattered while predators are repeatedly set free to commit yet more heinous crimes. People have no way of knowing if they are living next door to dangerous individuals like Kenneth Gibson.’
RSOs are managed under Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA), which see police, social workers and prisons share information. Last month, 4,628 RSOs were in the community while 1,709 were behind bars.
The Scottish Government’s latest annual MAPPA report – published last month – shows 114 RSOs were convicted of serious crimes in 2021/22. The highest previous figure was 112 in 2018/19.
Among the record tally is Graham, 31, who was freed early from a seven-year jail term for a previous sex attack. He brutally attacked Mrs Brown, 67, in her own home, then raped her and left her for dead. Graham, who was ‘under supervision’, was jailed for life a year ago for the murder.
In another case, Alan Hardie, 54, was jailed for nine years last year for two rapes in Melrose and Kelso, Roxburghshire, including one committed while he was being supervised. He had previously been jailed for four years for rape but released early.
Meanwhile, Gibson, 35, is to be sentenced next month for his rampage in Edinburgh last April.
He pulled a knife on two police officers then hijacked a passing car, threatening to stab the woman motorist.
Gibson was jailed for eight years in 2005 for abducting a 14-year-old boy from a bus and raping him. He has released early from his sentence in 2010 and has repeatedly been back behind bars.
His latest crimes were committed only a month after he was once again freed from prison.
He could now be handed an order for lifelong restriction, which means he will be let out only if the authorities are satisfied he doesn’t pose a grave risk to the public.
David Hamilton, chair of the Scottish Police Federation, said: ‘If you release more people to shrink the prison population while cutting resources for community supervision, you are creating risk.’
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Ninety-four per cent of RSOs comply with the notification requirements imposed on them.’