Former handyman jailed for sexual assaults and rape of teenage girl

A former handyman who preyed on two teenagers and subjected one of them to rape has been jailed for seven years.

Adam Wood, 34, began abusing victims in the Scottish Borders when he was still a teenager before committing rape at a house in Selkirk.

A judge told Wood at the High Court in Edinburgh: “A jury convicted you of three sexual offences against young girls. I must respect that verdict.”

John Morris KC told him: “Only a substantial custodial sentence is appropriate.”

The judge said that he took into account that Wood was “a fairly young man” at the time of the offending, that he was treating him as a first offender, and he was assessed as posing a low risk.

Wood, of Selkirk, had denied a series of charges at an earlier trial but was found guilty of committing three crimes.

The first happened at an address in Hawick on one occasion in 2008 and involved a 14-year-old girl.

The second girl was subjected to indecent conduct by Wood at addresses in Hawick and Selkirk before he assaulted and raped her on an occasion in July 2013.

Defence counsel Jonathan Crowe said Wood was 18 at the time of the first offence and 23 when he last occurred.

He said Wood has four daughters and a very supportive family. He told the court: “He has a very close bond with his children.”

Mr Crowe said Wood has “a strong work ethic” and was employed as a gardener before later becoming a self-employed handyman in the local community.

But he said he had health problems and his partner now acted as his carer and he was prescribed anti-depressants.

Wood was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, and the judge made non-harassment orders banning him from contacting or attempting to contact the victims for indefinite periods.