Man who raped schoolgirl facing 'substantial' jail sentence

A man who raped a vulnerable schoolgirl after promising her cigarettes has been locked up.

Daniel Cunningham preyed on the 14-year-old in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, on July 13, 2019.

The 23-year-old met the girl at a shop and took her near a wooded area on a hill where he pounced on her.

Cunningham denied raping the girl to her injury at a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, but was convicted by the jury on Tuesday.

Cunningham, of Carluke, South Lanarkshire, was remanded in custody by Judge Lord Arthurson.

The judge said: “The jury have convicted you of an extremely serious rape to injury with a vulnerable 14-year-old girl who was a stranger to you when you were 21.

“This crime was opportunistic, predatory in nature and the victim was a child.

“Be in no doubt, you will receive a substantial custodial disposal.”

The court earlier heard the girl first met Cunningham in a shop while she was drunk.

She asked Cunningham to buy her cigarettes before he took her by the hand and led her out the shop.

Prosecutor Paul Kearney said in his closing speech to the jury: “She told you how she went willingly with Cunningham, that he said they would light up cigarettes up the hill.

“A 14-year-old, tempted by offer of something that she wanted. She went with him.”

The pair sat down before Cunningham picked the girl up and took her near a wooded area.

Cunninham then repeatedly kissed the girl and performed a sex act on her.

Mr Kearney stated: “She told the officers how she didn’t want this and was saying things like ‘just leave me, I’ll get you tomorrow just let me go home’.”

Cunningham told her to perform a sex act on him before he would “leave her”.

He then stated that he “didn’t care if you want to or not” before raping the girl.

Cunningham then fled the scene before the girl went home and told her mother.

Cunninham was snared after his DNA was found on the girl’s body after swabs were taken.

Sentence was deferred until next month for background reports.

Cunningham, who has never served a custodial sentence, was put on the sex offenders’ register meantime.