Child rapist who groomed schoolgirl 'exploited victim for own gratification'

A child rapist who groomed and manipulated a 13-year-old girl has been warned that he faces a lengthy jail sentence after exploiting the victim for his own sexual gratification.

Robert Guthrie, 50, raped his victim to her injury during attacks in a Scottish Borders village.

He also sent sexualised text messages to the girl and induced her to send him intimate images of herself during the abuse.

Guthrie had denied raping the girl and indecently communicating with her during a trial, but was found guilty of both offences by the unanimous verdicts of a jury.

A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: “These were truly appalling crimes.”

Lord Harrower said to the sex offender: “You will be aware that only a significant custodial sentence is appropriate.”

The judge said the victim of his crimes was “a vulnerable 13-year-old girl” and Guthrie had acted for his own sexual gratification.

Lord Harrower told jurors at the end of the trial that it had been “a very serious case”.

Guthrie was convicted of assaulting the underage victim on various occasions between June 2022 and March 2023.

Guthrie did not give evidence at his trial but said during an interview with police that sexual activity did not happen. He also said the girl was “cute”.

Advocate depute Michael Macintosh said there had been a deliberate, calculated and persistent effort by Guthrie to groom and manipulate the child to achieve his own sexual gratification.

Defence counsel Jonny Campbell said following Guthrie’s conviction: “It is recognised he has been convicted of very serious offences. A lengthy custodial sentence will inevitably follow.”

The court heard that although Guthrie has previous convictions, they were not for sexual offending.

He was placed on the sex offenders’ register and remanded in custody. The judge called for a background report to be prepared on him ahead of sentencing at the High Court in Inverness on April 24.