Serial sex attacker John Sutherland back in jail

By ANGUS HOWARTH
Published on 23/03/2013 00:39

A SERIAL child abuser was ­yesterday returned to jail after being convicted of horrific sex attacks on two young girls.

John Sutherland was found guilty of raping one of the girls and attempting to rape the other after being tried at the High Court in Glasgow.

The 39-year-old – a former amateur puppeteer – denied the attacks, blaming them on another man.

It was revealed to the jury after the verdicts that Sutherland had previously committed a string of offences against young females.

He was jailed in 2001 for 12 months before receiving an 18-month term in 2006. Sutherland was also sentenced to 21 months just last year at Hull Crown Court and put on the sex offenders list for the next ten years.

Judge Rita Rae, QC, told him: “You have been convicted of horrific crimes committed against two children.

“Various phrases have been used during the course of the trial – one used by both counsel is that you destroyed their innocence. That is precisely what you did. Let me just warn you that the custodial sentence in this case will be a significant one.”

Sutherland yelled: “I am not finished with you yet” at his victims as he was led to the cells.