Justice catches up with rapist who raped young sisters three decades ago

James Diamond sexually assaulted the children at their then-family home in a former West Lothian mining village.

Diamond raped one victim on one occasion when she was aged about 11 and the other girl on various occasions when she was between 11 and 14.

A judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: “They have both been badly affected by what you did to them and did not feel able to disclose their experience until many years later.”

Lord Uist said he had to take into account that the offending occurred many years ago and Diamond’s age at the time.

One victim earlier told the High Court in Edinburgh that she tried to commit suicide in the aftermath of the abuse and said her life had been ruined.

Diamond, 46, formerly of Kennoway, in Fife, had denied raping the woman and her younger sister, who is now aged 43.

However, he was earlier convicted of raping both of them.

Diamond was also placed on the sex offenders’ register.