'High risk' sex offender jailed after rape victim recorded him confessing to crime

A ‘high risk’ sex offender who was caught after a victim recorded his confession has been handed an indeterminate jail sentence.

John Kinloch admitted that he had raped the woman during a phone call and apologised before the victim later handed over the recording to police.

Kinloch was told he will only ever be freed if parole authorities decided it was no longer necessary for public protection that he stay in prison.

Kinloch, 59, who has a history of sexual offending, was sentenced for his latest crimes against three women, two of whom were subjected to sex attacks and a third who was raped.

The first woman was sexually assaulted by him on two occasions between May 1 and June 8 in 2020 at an address in Perth and in a car in Dundee.

The second woman was subjected to a rape by Kinloch at another address in Perth between October 10 and 15 in 2021 when he took advantage of the victim who was intoxicated at the time and incapable of giving or withholding consent.

The third victim was sexually assaulted by him on December 8 in 2021 at a house in a Perthshire village.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the rape victim recorded a phone call with Kinloch before handing over the recording to police.

Advocate depute Lisa Gillespie KC said: “The complainer telephoned the accused and recorded their conversation. She put to him that he had raped her, telling him she felt disgusted and that he had idea what he had done to her.”

The prosecutor said: “The accused admitted he had raped her and said that he was sorry.”

Kinloch, from Perth, earlier pleaded guilty to the rape and the two sexual attacks on other victims.

The prosecutor said that he was previously assessed as posing a risk to public safety and was managed under multi agency public protection arrangements.

Following his conviction for the latest offences a consultant psychologist prepared a risk assessment report on him. Defence counsel Tony Lenehan KC said: “The conclusion of the report is that he is high risk.”

He said: “I have discussed the matter with him in prison and it is accepted by him that there is no new argument that can stop the imposition of an Order for Lifelong Restriction.”

The judge, Lord Beckett, imposed an OLR on Kinloch and told him: “It is a sentence of imprisonment for an indeterminate period, which shares some characteristics with a life sentence.”

Lord Beckett said: “My primary concern is protecting the public from the danger you present.”

The judge told Kinloch that many risk factors were identified in his and there were no protective factors.

He was previously convicted of indecency offences, sexual assault and sex with a girl under 16 as well as assault and motoring offences.

Lord Beckett said he would fix a minimum term, known as a punishment part, at four and a half years which is the period Kinloch must serve before he can apply for parole.

He told Kinloch: “You will only be released from prison when the Parole Board considers it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that you remain in prison.”

Kinloch, who followed the sentencing proceedings via a TV link to jail, was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Detective inspector Graeme Wishart said: “We know it take enormous courage to report crimes of this nature and we know how difficult it is for people to face their abuser.

“I would like to thank the women for contacting us and their faith in us to seek justice. I hope they can take some comfort knowing a dangerous predator, such as Kinloch, has been convicted and jailed.

“We encourage anyone who is or has suffered sexual abuse to contact us in the knowledge we will do everything in our power to see you achieve justice.”