Edinburgh paedophile John O'Flaherty faces life sentence for historical sex crimes

A notorious paedophile could face a life sentence after he was convicted of further charges of sexual abuse against children and adult women on Thursday.

John O’Flaherty, 65, preyed on vulnerable victims for over a decade in Edinburgh in a catalogue of indecency and rape.

O’Flaherty was jailed for 13 years in 2017 for the rape of two girls in his home city as part of a paedophile ring.

Following his further convictions for historical sex crimes, a judge called for a detailed risk assessment to be prepared on him on Thursday.

The assessment could lead to the imposition of an Order for Lifelong Restriction.

O’Flaherty and his deceased accomplice Billy King preyed on one youngster from the age of 10 in 1984; the child was repeatedly abused and raped by the pair and would be dropped off with extra sweets.

Advocate depute Lisa Gillespie said they must have had the “dream job” for any youngster, as the pair worked at an ice cream van.

The abuse of the girl went on for two years, and included her being raped in the ice cream van, at a flat in Pennywell, and at a lock up near Granton.

O’Flaherty also raped a teenager once she went to bed after drinking at a flat in Longstone on January 1, 1996, after hearing the bells at a Hogmanay party.

He went into the room and was told to leave, but instead put a hand over her mouth and restrained her before subjecting her to a sex attack.

O’Flaherty also subjected an adult woman to repeated rapes at houses in North Edinburgh between 1980 and 1992, leaving the victim shouting and screaming during the ordeal.

He also slapped and punched the woman, and on one occasion, chased her while brandishing swords at her.

O’Flaherty denied a string of charges during the latest court proceedings against him, but was found guilty of three rape charges, three indecency offences against children and an assault.

The trial judge, Lord Summers, placed him on the sex offenders’ register.

He is being remanded in custody while a report is prepared on him.