Rapist jailed for 12 years for decade of crimes

A man who carried out rapes and sex attacks on women and teenage girls for more than a decade has been jailed for 12 years.

Yuen Lawson, 37, committed offences in Peterhead and Ellon, in Aberdeenshire, and also in Dundee.

Two of the rape victims were aged 14 and 15. His crimes began in 2012 and continued until 2023.

Lawson had denied the offences but was previously found guilty by a jury. A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh said he had been convicted of "grave" charges which had done serious damage.

Lawson was found guilty of a total of nine offences, seven of which were rape.

His first victim was subjected to repeated rapes.

He made sexual demands of the woman and during attacks on her, struggled with her and restrained her.

During his evidence, Lawson denied the sex attacks but admitted that he verbally abused the woman.

He told the court it was behaviour he was "not proud of".

Defence counsel Gareth Jones KC told the court: "He continues to deny the offences of which he was convicted by the jury."

He said a custodial sentence was now "inevitable".

Mr Jones added: "He is determined to make use of the time he has in custody by engaging with whatever courses are made available to him."

Judge Thomas Welsh KC said that those raped and abused by Lawson had been subjected to a "horrific ordeal".

He said: "You gave evidence and were disbelieved in your version of events."

The judge said he had read victim impact statements and noted the "deep psychological torment" caused by Lawson's offending.

"The harm you have done is incalculable," he said. "A custodial sentence, as your counsel recognises, is inevitable."

He ordered that Lawson should be under close supervision in the community for a further three years after his release, meaning he could be returned to jail if he breached conditions.

Lawson was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.