Child rapist is handed life sentence

A CHILD rapist who subjected an 18-year-old girl to a horrific ordeal has become one of the youngest criminals in Scotland to face life in prison.

However, Iain McCarron could be back on the streets in 26 months because of human rights laws.

McCarron was just 15 when he attacked his victim while he was on holiday in the seaside town of North Berwick in East Lothian.

He ordered the screaming girl to "shut up or I'll stab you" before dragging her into the grounds of a hotel and raping her.

At the High Court in Kilmarnock yesterday, judge Lord Malcolm told McCarron he was imposing a lifelong restriction order.

Lord Malcolm said: "This is an indeterminate sentence of detention. It means you will remain in custody until the parole board decides you can be released on licence."

The judge added: "I fix the punishment part of your sentence at three years. The punishment part is merely the minimum."

Lord Malcolm backdated the sentence to 30 July, 2009, when McCarron, now 16, was first taken into custody. This reduces his three-year fixed term to around 26 months.

McCarron was earlier placed on the sex offenders' register for life.