Man who raped girl, 12, in Edinburgh woods then told her not to tell anyone jailed for five years

A man who attacked and raped a 12-year-old girl at a wooded area and instructed her not to tell others has been jailed for five years.

Paedophile Andrew McMahon, 69, subjected the child victim to sexual assaults on two occasions in Edinburgh in the summer of 2023.

McMahon, currently a prisoner, had denied a series of charges during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh but was found guilty of committing two rapes against the schoolgirl.

He first attacked the girl at a house in the Granton area of the city between March 28 and August 17 in 2023.

McMahon then attacked the girl for a second time on August 18 that year, when he grabbed her in a wooded area, pushed her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.

The rapist told his child victim not to tell anyone and threatened after subjecting her to the sexual abuse.

A jury returned guilty verdicts against the sex offender last month and judge Alison Stirling deferred sentence for the court to obtain reports

She warned McMahon that he was going to prison for his crimes. She added: ”Inevitably, what is going to happen is there will be a custodial sentence.”

On Friday, the case called again for sentencing. McMahon, originally of Edinburgh, observed proceedings via video link as he was remanded at the end of the last hearing.

Defence advocate Kenneth Cloggie told judge Stirling that his client maintained that he did nothing wrong.

Mr Cloggie added: “Although he maintains the position he had at trial, it is to be hoped that he will engage with the specialist interventionist programs which will be offered to him whilst he serves his sentence.”

Passing sentence, Judge Stirling also told McMahon that he’d be supervised by the authorities for two years following his release from custody.

Placing him on the sex offenders register for life, she added: “I have taken into account everything which has been said on your behalf by Mr Cloggie.

“The custodial part of your sentence will be five years.”