Rapist jailed for 'wrecking life' of 13-year-old girl

A man who groomed and raped a 13-year-old girl in Dumfries and Galloway has been jailed for 12 years.

Robert Guthrie, 50, of Langholm, assaulted the girl on various occasions between June 2022 and March 2023, including in a village in the Scottish Borders.

At the High Court in Edinburgh judge Lord Harrower said the girl had nightmares and flashbacks reliving what had been done to her.

He told Guthrie he had "wrecked her life" and described his offending as "extreme".

He said: "You took advantage of her vulnerability for your own sexual gratification."

Guthrie denied the charges but was unanimously convicted by a jury of assault, rape and indecent communication with the girl.

He sent her sexualised text messages and induced her to send him intimate images.

Defence counsel Jonathan Campbell said Guthrie, who previously served in the Armed Forces, did not accept that he committed the offences.

But Advocate depute Michael Macintosh said there had been a deliberate and persistent effort by Guthrie to groom and manipulate the girl.

Jailing him, Lord Harrower said: "These were truly appalling crimes."

The judge ordered that he should be under supervision in the community for a further three years, and could be returned to prison if he breached the conditions of his licence.

Guthrie was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and the judge made a non harassment order banning him from attempting to contact the victim.