Sex offender who targeted victims over two decades jailed

A repeat sex offender who carried out "appalling and predatory behaviour" on child victims for more than two decades has been jailed for 12 years.

Derek Lamond, 59, molested two girls and carried out sex acts on them at addresses in Fife and in cars from 1995 until 2017.

The former farmworker raped one victim and subjected the second to an attempted rape attack.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Lord Renucci told Lamond, of Dunfermline, Fife, that he needed to go to prison for his crimes and that he posed a "significant" risk to others.

He also told Lamond, who has two previous convictions for sex offences, that he would be supervised by the authorities for three years following his release from custody.

Lamond claimed their victims had made up their accounts of abuse for financial gain and denied the charges.

However, he was found guilty of the 10 offences a jury was asked to return verdicts on - including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent conduct.

Jurors unanimously convicted him of nine crimes and found him guilty of a tenth by a majority verdict.

Passing sentence, Lord Renucci said: “The harm you have caused to the complainers has continued to affect them well into adulthood.

“This is your third conviction for sexual offences - with you continued denials I am satisfied that the risk you pose is significant."

The judge added that there was "no alternative" to a custodial sentence.

Lamond began abusing his first victim when she was aged just four and started touching her and carrying out sex acts. He also got the child victim to carry out sex acts on him.

During the repeated targeting of the child over years he provided her with alcohol and cigarettes.

On one occasion when the girl was aged between seven and 10 he assaulted and raped her in a parked car in Fife.

Lamond began abusing a second girl when she was aged seven and also gave her money, drink and cigarettes over several years.

He subjected her to sexual abuse while she was sleeping. Lamond also tried to rape the girl during an assault on one occasion at a house in Fife.

During an interview with police after the abuse came to light he denied touching the victims in a sexual manner in any way and said it had been "made up".

Defence advocate John Brannigan told Lord Renucci that his client cared for an elderly aunt and "cares less about himself than about his own family".

Lord Renucci placed Lamond on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Police Scotland Det Con Emma Moyes said: “Derek Lamond will now face the consequences of his appalling and predatory behaviour.

"We thank the victims in this case for coming forward and their determination throughout the investigation."