Rapist facing jail over sex abuse charges

A MAN who raped a teenager and sexually abused three other young women over a 17-year period has been warned to expect jail.

Edward McPhillips, 53, had sex against his 15-year-old victim’s will on an occasion between December 1 and Christmas Day, 1986, the High Court in Edinburgh heard.

The pervert committed the assault on the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at an address in Bathgate.

The court heard that McPhillips also attempted to rape the schoolgirl on various occasions between New Year’s Day 1985 and December 25, 1986.

McPhillips, of Traprain Crescent, Bathgate, West Lothian, also sexually abused a 12-year-old girl between September 30, 1977 and September 29, 1978.

He also sexually assaulted a girl aged eight years old on an occasion between July 11, 1979 and July 10, 1981.

The court also heard that McPhillips abused a five-year-old girl between January 3, 1993 and January 2, 1994.

McPhillips was convicted by a jury of a total of six sexual abuse charges. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on February 27.