Cross-dressing butcher who abducted and sexually assaulted Borders schoolgirl given green light to appeal sentence

A cross-dressing butcher who admitted abducting and sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in the Scottish Borders has been granted leave to appeal against his sentence.

Andrew Miller (pictured), who also goes by the name Amy George, lured the child into his car while dressed as a woman in February of this year.

The 53-year-old paedophile had offered to give the youngster a lift home but instead drove her to his house in Gattonside and subjected her to repeated attacks during a 27-hour ordeal.

At the High Court in Edinburgh last month, Miller was handed a 28-year extended sentence, comprising 20 years behind bars and a further eight spent on licence under supervision in the community.

At the same court in May, Miller had pled guilty to charges of abduction, sexual assault, watching pornography in the presence of the child under the age of 13, and possessing 242 indecent images of children.

The Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh confirmed today (Friday) that Miller has been granted leave to appeal against the sentence. The appeal hearing will take place on December 5th.

Sentencing Miller on October 18th, judge Lord Arthurson described Miller's crimes as "brazen and chilling" and "uniquely appalling". He said the offences were "abhorrent crimes" of the utmost "deviance and depravity" which were "the realisation of every parent's worst nightmare".

The court heard the girl only managed to escape when Miller - who was wearing women's underwear when he was arrested - fell asleep, and she managed to locate a landline and dial 999.

Miller, who is said to be transitioning to female and was also placed on the sex offenders register at the time, has been held in the male prison estate following a row over the jailing of transgender rapist Isla Bryson who was sent to a female prison in February. Bryson was later moved to the male estate.

Earlier we reported how the former Melrose butcher has had his name stripped from the High Street after locals complained it had become "a stain on the town".

Miller's town centre shop - which boasted the slogan: "Millers of Melrose - 4th Generation Family Butchers" - is now under new ownership and advertising for a new tenant.

Meanwhile, the car he picked the girl up in has had its windscreen smashed while parked outside his boarded up home in Gattonside.

For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our new home page - https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.