Rapist jailed for five years after 'despicable' series of attacks on women in Fife

A teenage rapist who showed no remorse for his sex crimes was jailed for five and a half years on Monday after attacking two women.

Brandon MacLean subjected both victims to rape ordeals and attacked one woman twice within three days.

MacLean, now aged 20, was aged just 17 when he carried out his first offence against a third woman who was subjected to threatening or abusive behaviour when he went to a house in Ballingry, in Fife, in November 2019 and refused to leave and brandished a knife at the victim.

He struck again the following year when he attacked and raped a second woman at a house in Glenrothes, in Fife. During the offence committed between August 19 and September 30 in 2020 he took off the victim’s underwear and lay on top of her before subjecting her to the sexual assault.

MacLean also attacked and raped the woman a second time at a house in Kirkcaldy, in Fife, in early 2021. He grabbed her and pulled her into a bedroom and pushed her onto a bed.

During the rape he pushed her face into a bed cover and the side of the bed restricting her breathing. The woman was also subjected to a course of abusive behaviour by MacLean at locations in Fife in 2020 and 2021 during which he punched, kicked and shook her and threatened her.

His final victim was raped by MacLean at a house in Kirkcaldy on March 7 in 2021 when she was asleep and intoxicated and incapable of giving consent.

He then attacked and raped her again three days later at the address after seizing her by the hair, struggling with her and pulling her onto her back.

MacLean had denied a series of charges during an earlier trial but was convicted of six offences, including four of rape.

A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: “Given the gravity of the crimes of which you were convicted there is no suitable alternative to a sentence of detention.”

Lord Beckett said MacLean had shown no remorse and he was concerned how best to protect the public in his case.

The judge ordered that for a further five-and-a-half year period MacLean should be under supervision.

He told MacLean that during that extension period he would be under licence and if he failed to comply with conditions it could be revoked and he may be returned to custody.

Defence counsel Herbert Kerrigan KC said: “He is young. He has clearly had a disturbed childhood.”

MacLean, who has been in custody since 2021, was told he was being placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely following sentencing.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective constable Sean Wesson said: “MacLean will now rightly face the consequences of his despicable actions in prison.

“The fact that he has been convicted and sentenced is down to the bravery of his victims in coming forward to police and reporting it. They have shown great courage during our investigation and by giving their evidence in court.

“My thoughts remain with them at this time and I sincerely hope that today’s sentencing will bring them some comfort and allow them to move forward.

“These types of crimes will not be tolerated and we remain committed to supporting victims of crime. We will thoroughly investigate those responsible, no matter how much time has passed. I would urge people to come forward and report it. You can be assured of being fully supported by officers and our partner agencies.”