Pensioner who raped and sexually abused nine young women over half a century jailed

A terminally ill pensioner who spent almost half a century subjecting nine vulnerable girls to crimes including rape and sexual assaults has been jailed for 12 years.

Kevin McConnell, 70, preyed on the women, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at locations in West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire between May 1974 and February 2023.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how McConnell’s victims were aged between 11 and 17.

He started offending in the mid 1970s when he raped a woman in Alexandria between May 1974 and October 1974.

McConnell continued his offending until February 2023, when detectives based in Dumbarton became aware of his activities and started building a case against him.

The court heard that he would target his victims by offering them lifts in his car – he would then ply them with drink and drugs. The crimes took place at locations in Alexandria, Paisley and Carman Hill between Renton and Cardross.

A jury heard that as well as subjecting the females to rapes and assaults, he would obtain “sexual gratification” by addressing graphic remarks to some ot the girls by asking them questions of a “sexual nature”.

He also forced some of his victims to watch pornographic videos, and he also took and kept sexually explicit images of them.

McConnell, formerly of Alexandria but now of Paisley, Renfrewshire, denied any wrongdoing during High Court proceedings earlier this year.

However, jurors found McConnell guilty on a total of 21 charges and their verdicts prompted judge Thomas Welsh KC to call for a report which told him more of the accused’s background.

A jury found him guilty of rapes, sexual assaults and lewd and libidinous conduct.

On Wednesday, McConnell appeared for sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Judge Welsh heard defence advocate Edith Forrest KC tell him that McConnell was seriously ill with bowel cancer and was planning on stopping the treatment he’d been receiving for the condition at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre in Glasgow.

Judge Welsh told McConnell he was going to prison for his crimes. He also imposed an order on him to be supervised for the authorities for three years if he was to ever live beyond his jail term.

Passing sentence, judge Welsh told McConnell that his conduct was “evil” and “pernicious”.

He added: “You targeted vulnerable young girls by offering them lifts in your car. You gave them drink and drugs before committing these offences.

“You have shown no remorse or empathy for the terrible harm that you caused to the complainers in this case – this harm is deep and lasting.

“The risk analysis which has been carried out shows you pose a continuing serious risk of harm to children.

“In all the circumstances, I impose an extended sentence of 15 years – you will spend 12 years in custody, and there will be a supervision component of three years.”

Earlier in the hearing, Ms Forrest told the court how her client had an “unremarkable upbringing” and had spent most of his life being self-employed.

She also said that McConnell had “prostate” problems, diabetes and bowel cancer.

Ms Forrest added: “He has a terminal illness and is currently being treated for the condition at the Beatson.

“However, he is planning on stopping the treatment. Mr McConnell is in very poor health. I would ask the court to take health into account when sentencing and to take into account that his time might be limited in relation to others who would be convicted of similar offences.”

Judge Welsh also told McConnell that he’d spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders Register.