Serial rapist who preyed on underage girls during Orkney crime spree jailed

A serial rapist who offered money or alcohol to an underage girl for sex during a crime spree on Orkney has been jailed.

Stuart Harding, 34, preyed on adult women and children during a catalogue of sexual offending spanning nine years.

Harding, of Birsay, denied a series of charges during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh but was convicted of 12 offences, including five of rape and two of attempted rape.

A judge told Harding after the jury returned its verdicts: “You have been convicted of a series of very serious offences.”

Lord Summers said that the sex offender now faced “a lengthy custodial sentence” after he was found guilty of the crimes.

Harding began his offending in 2012 when he assaulted and raped a woman at a property in Kirkwall.

His attacks on her began when she was asleep but on occasions continued after she awoke. He also attempted to rape the woman on other occasions.

The woman said she was very scared but Harding told her “it sometimes happens when I am asleep.” She said he told her he had been to therapy and had “a sleep condition”.

He went on to rape a second woman on Orkney in the summer of 2015.

Harding went on to sexually assault and rape a third woman on Orkney in 2016 and again attacked and raped her in 2021 after she fell asleep.

The sex predator had also turned his attention to under aged girls and sexually assaulted and tried to rape a 12-year-old schoolgirl at a car park near to a beach at Kirkwall on an occasion between December 2015 and December the following year.

The girl told the court that Harding knew her age because she told him how old she was after they met through social media.

He later went on to have sex with the girl when she was 13 or 14 and said he would give her money or alcohol.

Harding provided another girl, aged 15, with alcohol, and asked her to have sex with him at a car park near to a beach at Kirkwall.

Advocate depute Catriona MacLeod told jurors that it was the Crown’s position that there was “clear and compelling evidence” of Harding’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Lord Summers adjourned sentence on Harding until next month for the preparation of a background report on him. He was placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Harding was on bail during his trial but following his conviction was remanded in custody ahead of the sentencing hearing.