close
close

Six years in prison for the rapist who preyed on defenseless young people affected by the heat in the forest

Six years in prison for the rapist who preyed on defenseless young people affected by the heat in the forest

A man who raped a defenseless teenager suffering from the heat of a summer day was sentenced to six years in prison.

Liam Mair, 27, raped his victim in a wooded area in Glasgow off the Kelvin walkway in the city’s botanical garden.

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh told Mair: “His young age and delicate situation were obvious to you at the time.”

Judge Alistair Watson said the evidence showed Mair was passing through the area with colleagues when he chanced upon a victim who was “suffering from the effects of the heat”.

The judge said: “The evidence shows that you took advantage of him.” The victim said she suffered great pain during the sexual assault.

He said it was clear that the crime had caused long-term psychological damage to the victim.

Mair, from Newcastle, had previously denied committing a sexual offense against the teenager on June 28, 2021, but was convicted of rape on the footpath between Queen Margaret Drive and Queen Margaret Road.

Defense barrister Sarah Livingstone said the offense was completely out of character for Mair, who had a good employment record. “He was always kind and gentle to me,” she told the court.

“He is aware that a long prison sentence is inevitable,” he said.

The judge ordered Mair not to contact or attempt to communicate with the victim and not to come within 100 meters of her indefinitely.

Mair was also told he would be placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

STV News is now on WhatsApp

Get the latest news from around the country

Follow STV News

Follow STV News on WhatsApp

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for the latest news from around the country

WhatsApp channel QR Code