Rapist who preyed on vulnerable young women jailed

A rapist who preyed on vulnerable young women during a catalogue of sex crimes has been jailed for six years.

Jake Hawkins, 26, attacked victims when some were under the influence of drink, medication or asleep.

On Wednesday, a judge told him at the High Court in Edinburgh: “You took advantage of them for your own sexual gratification.”

Lady Poole said it was clear from the evidence at his earlier trial that what he did was unwelcome, frightening, painful or degrading.

The court heard that the psychological harm suffered by victims was likely to be pervasive and enduring.

Lady Poole told him: “The offences of which you have been convicted are of the utmost seriousness. Rape, sexual and other assaults will not be tolerated in our society.”

The judge said that she took into account his age at the time of the offending and his lack of previous convictions.

She ordered that Hawkins be kept under supervision for a further three years and warned that if he breached licence conditions during that period that he could be returned to prison.

Hawkins, formerly of Scroggiehill, Almondbank, in Perthshire, had denied a string of offences at his trial but was found guilty of six rape charges, a sexual assault and an assault.

Hawkins sent a message to one woman telling her: “There’s no excuse for what I did.”

He also claimed: “It wasn’t premeditated. It was me succumbing to lust.”

He carried out the series of crimes against three victims between 2013 and 2017 in Dundee, Pencaitland, in East Lothian, Coupar Angus and his home village of Almondbank, in Perthshire.

Defence counsel Matt Jackson QC said reports prepared on Hawkins suggested he was a high risk of sexual reoffending and a medium risk of violence, but added there were areas where he can be helped.

He said Hawkins was aged 18 to 22 when he carried out the offences and as a young offender should be treated differently from an adult offender, with rehabilitation at the heart of the sentencing process.

Hawkins was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.