SNS GroupA high-risk sex offender who raped a girl when he was 12 has been jailed for five years.
Stephen Devlin raped a younger child at a house in Paisley, Renfrewshire in 2006.
A judge praised the victim for showing “enormous courage” after testifying at Devlin’s trail earlier this year.
Lady Haldane said that the author of a background report prepared on Devlin, now aged 30, assesses him as posing a high risk of further sexual offending.
Devlin had denied attacking and raping the 11-year-old girl on an occasion between June 1, and August 31, 2006.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that despite being convicted of the crime he continued to maintain it simply did not occur.
The court heard that Devlin went on to commit further sexual offences and other crimes in later years.
Lady Haldane said that although the harm caused by Devlin in the rape attack was significant she took into account that he was a 12-year-old boy at the time of the offence.
Devlin, who followed the sentencing proceedings via a TV link to prison, was told that he would be placed on the sex offenders’ register for an indefinite period.
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