Community sentence for teenage rapist 'extraordinary'

A assemblage condemnation handed down to a antheral who raped a 13-year-old schoolgirl erstwhile helium was 17 has been described arsenic "extraordinary" by a starring KC.

Sean Hogg, present 21, attacked the miss successful Dalkeith Country Park, Midlothian, connected assorted occasions successful 2018.

Judge Lord Lake said that if the offence had been committed by an big implicit 25, Hogg would person received a jailhouse condemnation of 4 oregon 5 years.

Tommy Ross KC said the 270-hour assemblage condemnation was "very unusual".

Hogg's punishment has besides been condemned by Rape Crisis Scotland.

New guidelines for sentencing nether 25s were introduced successful Scotland successful January 2022.

They made rehabilitation alternatively than punishment a superior consideration, recommending an "individualistic approach" taking into relationship their beingness experiences

The KC said: "It is an bonzer sentence.

"I person been moving successful the precocious tribunal for astir 20 years and I person ne'er seen anybody debar situation for rape until yesterday."

Court papers stated Hogg, of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, threatened the girl, seized her by the wrists and forced her to transportation retired a enactment enactment earlier raping her.

He was recovered blameworthy by a assemblage and appeared successful the dock for sentencing successful tears astatine the High Court successful Glasgow.

Judge Lake said rape was "one of the astir superior crimes" and that successful this case, the victim's property and vulnerabilities were "aggravating factors".

He told Hogg: "For the level of seriousness, I person to see your liability and person respect to your property arsenic a factor.

"For this offence, if committed by an big implicit 25, you pull a condemnation of 4 oregon 5 years.

"I don't see that due and don't mean to nonstop you to prison.

"You are a archetypal offender with nary erstwhile past of situation - you are 21 and were 17 astatine the time.

"Prison does not pb maine to judge this volition lend to your rehabilitation."

As good arsenic 270 hours of assemblage work, Hogg was besides enactment nether supervision and connected the enactment offenders registry for 3 years.

Donald Findlay KC, defending, told the tribunal an entreaty was planned.

A spokesperson for the Crown Office said: "As with each cases, the Crown volition see the condemnation and springiness information to whether it mightiness beryllium unduly lenient."