Man appears in court over Livingston rape

A MAN has appeared in court in connection with a serious sexual assault in Livingston on Wednesday.

Barry MacMillan, 26, appeared on petition at Livingston Sheriff Court today charged with rape and breach of the peace.

A woman was subjected to a “terrifying” sex attack near a public footpath in the town at 5.15pm on Wednesday.

It took place in bushes close to the path between Cedarbank and Colverbank in the Ladywell area.

MacMillan made no plea nor declaration and was committed for further examination.

He will remain in custody until his next appearance next week.

REPORT: Cara Sulieman

Man appears in court in connection with Livingston sex attack

A MAN has appeared in court over the alleged rape of a woman in her own home in Livingston at the weekend.

John McKeown, 22, appeared on petition at Livingston Sheriff Court today in connection with the incident.

He faces charges of abduction, rape, two counts of assualt, attempted murder and breach of the peace.

McKeown, from Livingston, made no plea nor delcaration when he appeared in private and was remanded in custody until his next apearance later this month.

A 39-year-old woman was allegedly raped in the early hours of Saturday morning after a man broke into the home she was staying at.

REPORT: Cara Sulieman

Police study CCTV in bid to catch Livingston sex attacker

A woman who was subjected to a horrific, early morning sex attack at a West Lothian house was only staying there because she was in the middle of moving home, detectives have revealed.

The 39-year-old victim was temporarily living with her brother-in-law and his young son in Livingston when the attacker sneaked into the luxury, detached home early on Saturday.

Detectives have also revealed that the attacker ordered the other occupants – a terrified man and his son – at knife point into a room before subjecting his victim to an hour-long ordeal.

The attacker tried to gain entry to at least three – and possibly four – homes nearby in the hour before eventually finding an insecure door or window at the attack address, police confirmed.

The incident, in Oakwood Park, Deans, Livingston, is causing so much concern that officers who specialise in tracking down sex offenders have been drafted into help.

The squad is also examining UK-wide records in a bid to establish whether the attacker has struck before.

Police warn ‘lock doors’ after woman’s two-hour sex ordeal at knifepoint in her own home

POLICE have warned residents to lock their doors and be on their guard after a man held a woman prisoner at knife point in her own home  during a horrific two hour sex attack in West Lothian.

Detectives say the 39-year-old victim has been left “seriously traumatised” by the incident that happened around 5am on Saturday in the Deans area of Livingston.

They said the assailant, described as being around 6ft tall with short dark hair and “chunky” sideburns, may have first tried to get into other homes, even ringing doorbells to do so.

Eventually he gained access to the victim’s home in Oakwood Park through what Lothian and Borders Police described as an unsecured door.

He threatened the woman and others in the house before sexually assaulting her, only fleeing at around 7am.

Police had not yet stated who or what ages the others in the house were during the time of the ordeal.

Special police unit to tackle rape and serious assault cases

By Clare Carswell

A SCOTS police force has set up a crack five-strong team of detectives devoted to cracking rape cases and serious sexual assaults.

The team – based with Lothian and Borders Police – is thought to be the first of its kind in Scotland and if proven a success, could be rolled out elsewhere.

It will operate as a six month pilot under the codename ‘Operation Federal’ to be based at Livingston investigating sex crimes within the West Lothian beat only.

The five CID officers will work exclusively on cases of rape and serious sexual assault regardless of any other breaking major criminal cases in the area.

Man charged over Bathgate rape

By Cara Sulieman

A MAN is due to appear in court in connection with the rape of an 18-year-old girl in Bathgate last week.

The victim was attacked as she walked alone through the Acredale Car Park near George Street in the town at around 2.30am on Friday September 24.

A 19-year-old will appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on Monday in connection with the incident.

Crime stats show increase in rape and sexual assaults

By Martin Graham

RAPE and attempted rape increased by three per cent in Scotland last year, while sexual offences rose by two per cent, according to crime statistics released today by the Scottish Government.

And is some parts of Scotland the rise was even greater, with Fife soaring by 35 per cent and Central Scotland by 21 per cent.

But overall recorded crime fell by 10 per cent to a 32 year low with 338,000 crimes recorded.

Violent crime is down by 11 per cent.

Man appears in court over alleged attempted rape

By Paul Thornton

A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded over the alleged attempted rape of a 16-year-old girl.

Kevin Mathers, 22, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Mon) over an alleged sexual attack on a girl at the Crewe Toll area of the city on Wednesday (June 30).

Mathers, from the Leith area of Edinburgh, also appeared on two charges of sexually aggravated breach of the peace.

During a brief appearance from custody on petition before Sheriff Frank Crowe he made no plea and no declaration and bail was refused.

Young girl raped as she walked her dog

DI Dougall at the footpath where the rape happened

By Paul Thornton and Cara Sulieman

POLICE are hunting a rapist they say could strike again after a 16-year-old girl was raped on a footpath.

The victim was walking her dog along a footpath in the Crewe Toll area of Edinburgh when she was grabbed from behind and forced off the path.

Her attacker then raped her before she managed to escape and find help.

The vicious attack happened at around 10pm on Wednesday night as the girl was walking along a footpath towards the red bridge on Ferry Road in Edinburgh.

Killer soldier back in dock

By Paul Thornton

A KILLER soldier behind the death of a young holiday rep in Cyprus which led to British troops being banned from an island has appeared in court after breaking the terms of an order to inform police of his movements.

Justin Fowler, 42, along with fellow former Royal Green Jackets Allan Ford and Geoff Pernell kidnapped and tried to rape Louise Jensen before bludgeoning her to death with an army spade and burying her naked body in September 1994.

The 23-year-old’s battered body – which suffered 15 blows by from the weapon – had to be identified from a silver ring on her finger.

The killing of the Danish tour guide outraged locals and British troops were banned from the resort of Ayia Napa in the wake of the incident.

Despite refusing to give evidence at the trial in 1996, the three men were handed life sentences after being convicted of abduction, conspiracy to rape and manslaughter.

They claimed they were too drunk to know what they were doing.