Ex-marine jailed for abuse of seven boys denied landlord registration in Edinburgh

A former Royal Marine who sexually abused a number of boys has been denied permission to let flats in the capital.

Rowland Reilly, who owns ten flats in Edinburgh, applied from prison to rejoin the landlord register, with his previous registration having lapsed in 2021.

Councillors refused the request, saying his conviction made him not a fit person to let property in the city.

Reilly, 59, abused seven boys in his care between 1984 and 1989 during his time as a non-commissioned officer in the Royal Marines.

All the boys were members of the Royal Marines Cadets, with the abuse taking place at several locations in Scotland, including Loch Lomond, the Pentland Hills and RM Condor in Arbroath.

At his trial in 2023, the High Court in Edinburgh heard that some of his victims have been left with long-term mental health issues.

At the time, the court heard that Reilly had gotten several of his underage victims drunk before assaulting them.

Reilly pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault and lewd and libidinous conduct in 2023 and was sentenced to four years in prison.

He was granted a short time on bail to resolve his business affairs, which included running his car dealership.

Before the committee made a decision, convener and Conservative councillor Joanna Mowat said: “I don’t think we can accept them onto the register as a landlord. They have demonstrated that they are not a fit and proper person.

“I recommend that we don’t accept Mr Reilly onto the register of landlords.”

Earlier in the meeting, council officer Andrew Mitchell said: “The applicant has declared a conviction for which he is serving a custodial sentence.

“Officers are recommending that the committee refuse entry to the register based on that conviction.”

A police liaison officer in the room said: “Routine police assessment checks carried out identified a previous conviction, which is considered as unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The conviction was held at the Edinburgh High Court on November 10, 2023.

“Charges one and two were of lewd, indecent and libidinous behaviour with aggravation of child and a male under 13.

“Charges three to seven were was indecent assault, again with aggravation of child and sexual offence against a male over 13 and under 16.

“He was convicted of a sexual offence with a notification requirement.

“Some of these offences are between 1984 and 1989, the applicant did sexually abuse children and young men in various locations throughout Scotland.

“We are of the opinion that due to the serious sexual nature of his offences, he would not be a fit and proper person to be a landlord.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell asked officers about the applicant’s letting history, saying: “How common is it for a landlord application to have ten properties in it? Because, in my view, you don’t just get 10 properties out of nowhere before you register.”

Mr Mitchell replied: “I think there are a number of landlords out there with properties where they will have individual circumstances where they allow their registration to lapse.

“This is an attempt to get back on the register in these circumstances. That’s all.”