Rapist who attacked teen girls and women during decade of offending jailed

A serial offender who preyed on women and teenage girls, committing sex attacks and rapes, has been jailed for 12 years.

Yuen Lawson carried out a string of sex crimes spanning more than a decade, with one woman subjected to repeated rapes by him.

Lawson had denied a series of charges during an earlier trial but was found guilty of nine offences – seven of which were crimes of rape.

The 37-year-old began carrying out sex attacks on his first victim in 2012 and continued until 2023 with offences committed in Peterhead and Ellon, in Aberdeenshire, and in Dundee.

His first victim was subjected to repeated rapes by him. He made sexual demands of the woman, and during attacks on her, struggled with her and restrained her.

During his evidence, Lawson denied the sex attacks but admitted that he verbally abused the woman.

The second adult victim was also restrained by Lawson during sexual assaults at an address in Dundee in 2023, and was assaulted when she was sleeping.

Lawson molested and raped a 15-year-old girl at an address near Ellon in October 2023 and also raped a 14-year-old at a house in Peterhead.

Defence counsel Gareth Jones KC told the court: “He continues to deny the offences of which he was convicted by the jury.”

A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: “You were convicted by the jury of grave and serious charges. You gave evidence and were disbelieved in your version of events.”

He said: “The harm you have done is incalculable. A custodial sentence, as your counsel recognises, is inevitable.”

The judge said he had read victim impact statements and noted the “deep psychological torment” caused by Lawson’s offending.

He ordered that Lawson should be under close supervision in the community for a further three years, when he will be on licence and can be returned to jail if he breaches the conditions.

Lawson was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. The judge made non harassment orders banning him from contacting or attempting to contact victims and told him that his jail sentence would be backdated to December 2023 when he was remanded in custody.