Man raped young boy and sexually assaulted teen girl

A sex offender raped a young boy before sexually assaulting a teenage girl a year later in a Highland town.

Liam Begg attacked the six-year-old boy at an address in Wick, in Caithness, and removed his clothing before subjecting the child to sex acts and rape in April 2017.

Begg, 23, struck again in April 2018 when he exposed himself and compelled a 14-year-old girl to carry out a sex act on him and molested her in Bignold Park, in Wick.

Begg had denied a series of offences during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh but was convicted of the two offences committed against child victims. He was acquitted of a further sexual assault charge.

A judge told him following the guilty verdicts: “You should be in no doubt that these are serious convictions.”

Lady Ross said that the rape of the boy was “a matter that causes me very serious concern”.

The judge told Begg, a prisoner at Inverness prison, that it was necessary for her to get reports ahead of sentencing him for the crimes.

She said she would call for a background report on him and added: “I will also be asking for a report that will tell me about the level of risk you might present in the future.”

The judge was provided with victim impact statements and said she would need to take account of those as well as a criminal justice social work report on Begg prior to sentencing him.

The court heard that Begg has previous convictions, although they were mostly for breaches of court orders.

Defence counsel Frances Connor reserved addressing the court in mitigation until reports were available for a sentencing hearing.

Begg was placed on the sex offenders’ register and his case will be reported to Scottish Ministers under protection of vulnerable groups legislation.

He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on July 8.