Former soldier jailed for raping 12-year-old girl in Edinburgh
Kenneth Hart admitted committing the offences in 2014 and 2015
A former soldier who raped a 12-year-old girl has been jailed for six years.
Kenneth Hart, 48, from South Queensferry admitted raping the schoolgirl at a house in Edinburgh, between 2014 and 2015.
He also pled guilty to sexually abusing her.
Judge Lord Mulholland told Hart: “You have pleaded guilty to repeatedly raping and sexually abusing this girl over a 17-month- period when she was a child. You offered her financial inducements.”
The High Court in Glasgow heard that the abuse came to light when the girl told a family member and the police were called in.
Lord Mulholland described the young victim as “very brave.”
Solicitor advocate Jim Stephenson, representing Hart, said: “He was in the Army and then ran a family business. He is assessed as low risk of re-conviction. He has a limited record and a supportive family.”
The court heard that when Hart was initially questioned by police he denied everything and claimed the girl had made it all up.
But, he them admitted what he had done and pled guilty.
Hart was placed on the sex offenders' register. He showed no emotion as he was led away to begin his sentence.