Convicted domestic abuser who raped vulnerable teenage girl at Inverness guest house jailed

A convicted domestic abuser who raped a vulnerable teenage girl in a guest house has been jailed for four years.

Cameron Huggins, 22, preyed on the 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in an accommodation in Inverness on April 10, 2023.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Huggins assaulted his victim whilst she was incapable of consenting to sex because of the effects of alcohol.

He locked the door of the room and restrained her before raping her by having sex without her consent.

Jurors last month found him guilty of rape. Huggins, of Muir of Ord, Inverness-shire, denied any wrongdoing during proceedings.

It is not the first time that Huggins has been in trouble with the authorities. The jury heard he had a previous conviction for domestic abuse.

Judge Alison Stirling deferred sentence for the court to obtain reports.

On Wednesday, Huggins, a remand prisoner, watched proceedings at court via video link. He heard his advocate Kelly Duling ask judge Stirling to exercise “mercy” in the sentence given to him.

Passing sentence, judge Stirling told Huggins that he’ll also be supervised by the authorities for two years following his release from custody.

She added: “Custody is the only appropriate disposal in this case.”

In October 2024, the Press and Journal newspaper reported how Huggins was already on a non-harassment order to protect an ex-partner when he appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit charges of assault and threatening behaviour on a new partner.

On that occasion, Huggins was placed under social work supervision for two years.

Sheriff David Harvie ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work and to take part in the domestic abuser’s rehabilitation programme.

In the present case, jurors heard evidence that showed the offender targeted his victim following a party at the accommodation.

During proceedings, the court heard how Huggins claimed he had consensual sex with the girl. But the victim told police officers who managed to gather enough evidence to bring him to justice.

The court heard that following the attack, she was “shaking” and “in tears”.

During proceedings, Huggins told defence advocate Kelly Duling that he was telling the truth when he said he didn’t rape the girl.

He added: “I don’t lie.”

He also told Ms Duling that he couldn’t understand why the girl claimed she had been raped.

Huggins added: “It felt like a bit of a set-up if I’m going to be honest with you.”

He told the court that he told police officers who came to investigate claims of wrongdoing that he hadn’t done anything wrong.

He added: “I asked them if they could take me down for questioning.”

In her closing speech to jurors, Ms Duling urged them to acquit her client saying that the Crown hadn’t proven their case against her client and that Huggins had told the truth in evidence.

She said: “The Crown haven’t done it here. I submit to you that Mr Huggins has told you the truth – the good, the bad, the ugly and awful bits of it.”

On Wednesday, Ms Duling said Huggins wanted to get a “job” and live a “pro-social life” upon his release from custody.

She added: “I invite your ladyship to exercise mercy in the selection of a tariff.”

Judge Stirling also placed Huggins on the Sex Offenders Register for life.