First victim of Hawick monster who raped three children over four decades reveals 'shock' at sentence
Last updated 27th Apr 2023
A woman who was raped by a Hawick man before she had even started primary school is welcoming the sentence handed out to her attacker by a Judge last week.
Colin Bouglas, who's 56, was given a 19-year sentence at the High Court in Livingston on Wednesday - 14 of which will be spent locked up behind bars.
The court heard the monster, who abused three children over four decades, including defecating in one girl's mouth, was only caught due to the "bravery and courage" of his victims - who were forced to give evidence in front of a jury after he denied his sickening crimes.
His first victim, who returned to court to watch the sentencing, told us: "We were stunned - absolutely shocked - when sentence was passed, because we only expected him to get a couple of years, simply because the system has failed many. So, to us, 19 years in total is alot.
"Fourteen years behind bars without early release, we're told, at least until six months before the end of his sentence - and even then he may not get parole. He will be 70 before he is released, and then there will be five years upon release of him being monitored."
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A background report revealed Bouglas, who began offending in 1984, had "deviant sexual preferences showing sexual attraction to, and sexually abusing, young or very young female pre-pubescent children".
Judge Susan Craig, who presided over the case, said it was clear from the victim statements that his actions had had a profound effect on the girls' lives.
Two of them, who are now adults, asked the court to allow them to give their evidence without any special measures to screen them because they wanted, they said, to look Bouglas in the eye when they told the court what he had done to them.
His first victim - who we're not naming to protect her identity - hopes speaking out will encourage more people to come forward to report abuse.
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"Never be afraid to tell your truth," she said. "You will be surprised at the support you can receive. I know sometimes it doesn't always work out that way, but speaking out for yourself is better than holding the poison inside. If anyone is affected by this, please get some help."
And she added: "I hope if this helps just one person to find the strength to report their abuse, that will make me so happy."
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As well as the jail term, Bouglas, who appeared via a video link in court last week, has also been added to the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period.
Passing sentence, Judge Susan Craig told him: “You were convicted by a jury of charges of rape, sexual assault and lewd and libidinous practices involving two girls, now adults, who were each still at nursery and under school age when you raped and assaulted them.
"You were also convicted of sexually assaulting a child, who is still a child, from the age of two until she was six, and of raping her multiple times when she was just six.
"The rapes and sexual assaults of that child only came to light in 2020 when one of your now adult victims reported your rape of her to the police and they began investigating you.
"You were in a position of trust in respect of that child. You assaulted her repeatedly performing degrading and depraved acts on her. You also raped her multiple times."
And she added: "It is plain from the gravity of the offending before that only a very substantial custodial sentence is appropriate."
Help is available
If you’ve been affected by the issues raised in this article, help is available. Contact Rape Crisis in your nation:
Rape Crisis Scotland - 08088 01 03 02 - https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
Rape crisis England and Wales - 808 500 2222 - https://rapecrisis.org.uk
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