Man found guilty of sexual assaults and rapes of three young girls over two decades

A man has been found guilty of carrying out a series of sexual assaults and rapes on three young girls.

James John Dorans, 56, preyed on the children at locations in Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy, Fife, between August 1995 and September 2018.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that in one of the attacks, Dorans tried to get his victim to engage in sexual activities with an animal.

He then went to rape the child, who was aged 13 when the abuse began in March 1999.

On Thursday evening, jurors returned guilty verdicts to four charges.

During the trial, the jury heard how Dorans sexually assaulted his first victim on two occasions between August 1995 and August the following year.

The court heard how Dorans climbed into a bed where the nine-year-old girl was sleeping and put his arms around her before carrying out sexual assaults.

On various occasions between March 13, 1999 and February 11, 2002, Dorans raped his second victim who was 13 when the abuse began.

The court heard how he plied her with alcohol and whilst she was asleep and intoxicated, he had sex with her when she was “incapable” of giving “or withholding consent”.

The court also heard that with the same child, Dorans uttered sexually explicit remarks at her and tried to get her to engage in sex with animals.

His final attack came in September 2018 when he sexually assaulted another 13-year-old girl at a house in Kirkcaldy.

The court heard that on this occasion, he touched the child’s thigh before moving his hand up her body. He then “intentionally directed” a sexual remark at her for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification or “humiliating, distressing or alarming her”.

Dorans was brought to justice after police learned of his activities. They launched an investigation which allowed them to gather enough evidence to charge and bring him to court.

During proceedings, Dorans told the court that he suffered from Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia.

When defence solicitor advocate Richard Souter asked him if he had sex with the child whilst she was “asleep, intoxicated and unable to provide consent”, the accused replied: “no no no.”

Following the jury’s verdict on Thursday evening, Dorans could be heard saying: “That’s rubbish.”

Prosecutor Nicola Gilchrist told the court that the accused had previous convictions.

She said all of his victims intended to provide Lady Poole with statement to detail the impact that Dorans’s actions have had on them.

Ms Gilchrist said that they felt “unable to” provide these statements until the conclusion of proceedings.

The advocate depute also asked the court to pass orders prohibiting Dorans from ever contacting them.

Lady Poole remanded Dorans in custody and deferred sentence for the court to obtain reports on his background.

She added: “You took advantage of your victims who were girls who were significantly younger than you.

“The court takes these crimes very seriously.”

Dorans will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on October 2, 2025.

The judge also praised members of the jury for performing an “act of public service of real value” by sitting in a case in which the evidence was “serious, distressing and unpleasant”.

She told them: “If any of you feel affected by what you have heard then you can speak to somebody.

“You are eligible for counselling – it is something that is offered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Services.

“You are eligible for four sessions – an assessment and three other sessions.”