Businessman who raped and sexually assaulted two women jailed for ten years

A businessman who was found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting two women has been jailed for ten years.

John Houston, 39, preyed on the women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at locations in Leven, Fife, between July 2020 and September 2023.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how he subjected his first victim to various sexual assaults, including rape.

Sentencing Houston, judge Matthew Jackson said: “It is apparent from the evidence heard at trial that you are the type of man who will readily impose himself upon a female partner in some type of deeply misguided demonstration of what you might think is your power over them.

“You seem to have done whatever you can to diminish the confidence and strength of your victims. In fact, it was quite clear at trial that your victims showed enormous courage and resolve in firstly reporting your crimes to the police and thereafter giving evidence against you to ensure that you were convicted of these deeply horrible offences. It is they, not you, who have exerted these traits of courage and strength.

“You maintain your position of innocence of any offences, which comes as no surprise. In contrast to your victims, I do not consider that you have the courage to recognise the true nature of your actions, and so it is simpler for you to maintain your denial of these crimes. I note from the report that you claim to have travelled all over the world, searching for spiritual enlightenment.

“I can only hope that at some stage, hopefully sooner rather than later, you will start to acknowledge the hurt and lasting harm that you have caused to your victims. Without doing so, you place yourself at very real risk of further offending against other women in the future.”

Trial

A jury heard evidence about how, on one occasion, he sexually assaulted the woman after she had withdrawn consent.

Jurors also heard how, on various occasions between December 2022 and October 2023, Houston also raped a woman whilst she slept. He also repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

Police became aware of his crimes and gathered enough evidence to bring him to court.

Houston, of Leven, Fife, was convicted of rape, sexual assault and threatening behaviour charges at the end of a week-long trial in August.

He had denied any wrongdoing.

During proceedings, Houston denied being responsible for offences. When he was asked if both victims told him to stop during sex acts, he replied: “I didn’t hear them once ever say ‘stop’ once.”

He told the court that he “100%” didn’t break the law.

He added: ”I didn’t make anybody do anything.”

He said he was not an aggressive person and would never hurt them. He said he thought there was a conspiracy and that the women spoke to each other.

After the jury returned their verdicts of guilty, prosecutor Fiona Drysdale KC told judge Matt Jackson KC that Houston had previous convictions for minor road traffic offences, assault to injury and breach of the peace.