Double rapist jailed for attacking young mum in graveyard

A double rapist who attacked a woman in a graveyard eight years after assaulting his first victim as she slept has been jailed for nine years.

Craig Higgins, 37, who “boasted of his sexual exploits” and has a “despicable view” of women, raped a young mum at St John’s Church in Stevenson in July 2018.

The victim was returning home from the TRSNMT music festival in Glasgow when the attack took place.

Higgins, of Ayrshire, pounced on her in a graveyard near the church after leading her from a taxi.

The woman had earlier branded him a “creep” when he approached her in a bar she entered on her return from Glasgow.

Speaking in court she said her last memory was being invited to a house party by a friend before waking up with Higgins on top of her in the church grounds.

She tried hitting her attacker but felt like she could not move properly, before two men ran to her aid and scared off Higgins who was seen pulling up his trousers as he fled the scene.

It was days later before the woman built up the courage to report the attack to police.

It then emerged that eight years earlier, in 2010, the 37-year-old raped another woman after sneaking into her bedroom, again in Stevenson, as she was sleeping.

Prosecutor Alan Mackay told jurors: “Each involved him taking advantage of an unconscious woman.”

Higgins, who still maintains his innocence and is supported by his wife, was found guilty following a trial in December.

The sex attacker was described by a judge as having a “despicable attitude” to women who he viewed as “objects”.

On Wednesday Lady Rae locked him up at the High Court in Glasgow.

She also ordered he be monitored for three years on his release due to the danger he poses.

The judge told Higgins: “You raped two women, who, at the time, were in a vulnerable state.

“The first was in her own bedroom when you entered uninvited and took advantage of her.

“The second was intoxicated when you are seen leading her from a taxi to a church graveyard where you raped her.”

The judge blasted Higgins’ “arrogance” and how he had tried to “demean” the women during his evidence.

She went on: “You accused both of lying, but the only person lying was you.

“You told the jury that you regularly boasted of your sexual exploits.”