Rapist who abused children over three decades jailed for ten years

A rapist who abused children over three decades and tried to engage one of his victims in sexual activities with an animal has been jailed for ten years.

James John Dorans was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, having earlier been convicted of rape and sexual assault charges.

The court heard how the 56-year-old had preyed on the children at locations in Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy, Fife, between August 1995 and September 2018.

Jurors heard that in one of the attacks, Dorans tried to get his victim to engage in sexual activities with an animal.

He then went to rape the child, who was aged 13 when the abuse began in March 1999.

Before passing the ten-year jail term and a three-year post-release supervision order, Lady Poole directly addressed one of Dorans’ victims, who was sitting in court.

She said: “This should not have happened to you. I have read the victim impact statement from you and it is clear that this cannot have been easy for you.

“I hope that today will give you a measure of comfort and allow you to move on with your life.”

At the end of his trial earlier this year, Dorans sat in the dock and held his head in his hands after jurors returned guilty verdicts. He could be heard dismissing the verdict and said: “That’s rubbish.”

He started to weep as Lady Poole told him to look at her.

She then told him: “You took advantage of your victims who were girls who were significantly younger than you.

“The court takes these crimes very seriously.”

During the trial, the jury heard how Dorans sexually assaulted his first victim on two occasions between August 1995 and August the following year.

The court heard how Dorans climbed into a bed where the nine-year-old girl was sleeping and put his arms around her before carrying out sexual assaults.

On various occasions between March 13, 1999 and February 11, 2002, Dorans raped his second victim, who was 13 years old when the abuse began.

The court heard how he fed her alcohol and whilst she was asleep and intoxicated, he had sex with her when she was “incapable” of giving “or withholding consent”.

The court also heard that with the same child, Dorans uttered sexually explicit remarks at her and tried to get her to engage in sex with animals.

His final attack came in September 2018 when he sexually assaulted another 13-year-old girl at a house in Kirkcaldy.

Dorans was brought to justice after police learned of his activities. They launched an investigation which allowed them to gather enough evidence to charge and bring him to court.

The judge also praised members of the jury for performing an “act of public service of real value” by sitting in a case in which the evidence was “serious, distressing and unpleasant”.

She told them: “If any of you feel affected by what you have heard then you can speak to somebody.

“You are eligible for counselling – it is something that is offered by the Scottish Courts and Tribunal Services.

“You are eligible for four sessions – an assessment and three other sessions.”

On Thursday, defence solicitor advocate Richard Soutar told the court that Dorans had experienced “trauma” as a child.

The lawyer also said that his client understood that he’d receive a “significant” prison sentence for his offending.

Lady Poole also told Dorans: “You appear to have been focused on your own sexual gratification and not on the well being of children who were young girls when you abused them.”

Dorans was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.