Early release sex offender admits attempted rape of toddler

Published on 24/09/2004 01:07

A TEENAGE sex offender who was under official supervision for an attack on a 91-year-old woman snatched a toddler from her bed in the middle of the night and tried to rape her, a court heard yesterday.

James Campbell, 19, sat with his head bowed as the High Court in Edinburgh heard details of the offence and of his earlier indecent assault on the pensioner, for which he was given a three-year sentence.

He had been released after serving half the term, and was on the sex offenders’ register and remained subject to supervision. Two months later, he struck again.

Campbell pleaded guilty to abducting the girl from her home in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, in the early hours of 10 July and to sexually assaulting and attempting to rape her.

The advocate-depute, John Beckett, said the girl’s mother had gone out for the night, and she and her older brother and sister were put to bed by their father. He checked the children when he went to bed at 1am.

The girl was discovered missing by her grandmother when she returned to the house, and a search was launched by the girl’s father.

In a lane, Campbell was seen lying on top of the child. His trousers and underpants were at his ankles. He tried to run away, but tripped and fell and was caught by one of the searchers, Bernard McGivern.

Campbell, who had been staying in a hostel for the homeless in Manse Avenue, Coatbridge, told police that he had been drinking heavily and tried the doors of a number of houses to get in to steal. He said he had not intended to kill the child, but was going to have sex with her.

In his earlier offence, Campbell broke into the home of a 91-year-old woman in Cumbernauld in the dead of night and assaulted her with intent to rape her. He was sentenced to three years’ detention, to be followed by two years of supervision in the community. He was released on 17 May.

Campbell will be sentenced next month for the offences against the child.

Annabel Goldie, the justice spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservatives, said: "The Scottish government has had seven years to put into force Conservative legislation that would have scrapped automatic early release. Maybe now they will face up to the awful consequences of their refusal to act."

A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: "They [ministers] are very aware of public concerns about the consistency of sentences. That's why a sentencing commission has been established, and that's why reviewing the issue of automatic early release is one of its first priorities."