Former soldier jailed for East Kilbride pensioner rape

A former soldier who raped a 77 year-old woman then lied she had offered him money for sex has been handed a life sentence.

Author: Natalie CrawfordPublished 13th Apr 2022

A former soldier who raped a 77 year-old woman then lied she had offered him money for sex has been handed a life sentence.

53 year-old Scott Forrest forced the helpless pensioner into his home before carrying out the degrading attack on July 17 2020.

The victim later turned up at a local police station sobbing and bleeding following the crime in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire.

Forrest was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.

He had been found guilty of rape last September, but the case had been repeatedly adjourned as a full assessment was carried out into the risk the sex attacker poses.

Judge Graham Buchanan imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction and told Forrest he must serve a minimum six years and three months behind bars.

Sentencing, he said: "You have been convicted of an offence of shocking depravity against a vulnerable elderly lady.

"You have a bad record of previous convictions of all kinds.

"You will only be released if the Parole Board can be satisfied that public safety will not be endangered by such a course being taken.

"Given your risk, it is possible that you will never be released."

Forrest - who appeared via video link - will also be on the sex offenders list indefinitely.

Jurors heard how the rapist had appeared at the victim's home and stated: "You are coming with me."

She ended up being held at Forrest's house, pushed onto a chair and had her clothes ripped off.

During the horror attack, Forrest told the terrified woman: "You are loving it."

The victim was eventually able to escape and immediately went to a police station.

The woman did not testify during the trial.

But, a detective told how the OAP turned up "crying, shaking and with no tights on".

In a harrowing statement read to the jury, the victim said to police: "I begged him for me to go home.

"He said 'okay, but come back tomorrow'. I was really upset when I got home.

"I cannot believe he did this to me. It is so cruel. I was petrified he would come after me."

After being arrested, jobless Forrest lied the pensioner had appeared at his door.

His then QC John Scott put to him during the trial: "You said to officers you were going to be paid for having sex with the woman. How much was involved?"

Forrest: "ÂŁ50."

He added the victim had offered to make him a bacon roll afterwards.

Forrest was today/yesterday represented by defence QC Fred Mackintosh.

The advocate told the hearing: "He maintains his innocence."

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