Fife web developer Ruairi Murphy who tied up, abused and raped three women jailed

A former company director who used sex toys during a series of horrifying rapes has been jailed for six years.

Ruairi Murphy, 29, told jurors that he was “experimenting” with his sexuality when he preyed on three women.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard Murphy make the claim when he stood trial for raping his victims earlier this year.

Murphy, of Dunfermline, Fife, claimed he had consensual sex with the women, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

But jurors heard how Murphy tied up his victims and subjected to physical and verbal abuse during the assaults.

He also ignored their pleas for him to stop.

One woman told prosecutor Mark Mohammed of an occasion in May 2015 when Murphy raped her at a house in Dunfermline.

The woman, who is aged 28, said: “He tied me up to the bed using his shoe strings. I didn’t want to do it at first because I am not into that type of thing but that’s what he wanted to do.”

On Tuesday, judge Lady Wise told Murphy, who observed proceedings via video video link, that prison was inevitable.

She said she had been guided in part from information gained from statements written by the women which had been provided to the court.

She also made reference to Murphy’s admission to a court appointed social worker that he is still interested in bondage and sadomasochism.

Also ordering Murphy to be supervised by the authorities for three years following his release, Lady Wise said: “I have read the Victim Impact Statements which have been provided to me.

“The statements tell of how the woman have been left with low self esteem, anxiety and fear.

“Your behaviour will have a lasting impact on all of them.

“You also continue to express an interest in bondage and sadomasochism which contributes to the assessment of risk in this case.

“The sentence I will impose in this case will be an extended one – this is in order to protect the public – in particular young women – from you.”

He was convicted following a four-day trial in May 2022 and sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports.

The court heard how the attacks took place at locations in Fife.

Another of Murphy’s victims said she was “quite fearful” of him.

The 28-year-old female told Mr Mohammed that they were lying on the bed watching TV and he started touching her.

“I believe I told him that I didn’t want to have sex.”

Mr Mohammed said: “Did you try to get him off?”

She replied: “I tried to but he had a couple of stone on me and I couldn’t get him off.”

The woman said that she was unable to stop Murphy from assaulting her.

She added: “I was tightly tied up. I couldn’t do anything.”

Murphy’s third victim, a 22-year-old, told the court of how he intimidated her and how he punched and slapped her.

Murphy was arrested after police learned of his activities and gathered enough evidence to bring him to court.

He told the court he had his own company and worked as a web developer.

He told defence advocate Ronnie Renucci QC that the sex with the women was consensual.

Murphy told the court: “We were experimenting.”

He later told Mr Mohammed: “I would never be physically aggressive towards a female.”

On Tuesday, Mr Renucci told Lady Wise that Murphy, who was remanded in custody earlier this year, still denied any wrongdoing but accepted that prison was inevitable.

He added: “He is determined that he will be make constructive use of his time in custody.

“He is determined to make constructive use of his time in custody. He is determined that he will be able to get his life back upon his release from custody.

“This is the first time he has been in custody. He has not found it easy. Prison is not supposed to be pleasant but he has found it particularly hard.”

Lady Wise also placed Murphy on the Sex Offenders Register for life.