Serial rapist caught after victim shared ordeal on TikTok

A serial rapist who was caught after a victim revealed her ordeal on TikTok has been jailed for 14 years.

Michael Conway preyed on six young girls and two women during a campaign of abuse spanning four decades.

The 66 year-old was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow.

He had earlier been convicted after a trial in Livingston of a total of 14 offences which mainly occurred in the town between 1977 and 2021.

Judge William Gallacher also ordered Conway to be supervised for a further four years on any eventual release.

Conway – who had denied the charges – will be on the sex offenders list indefinitely.

Among the evidence jurors heard was how a ten-year-old he abused bravely posted on TikTok in 2021 what he had done to her.

This lead to a probe by detectives which revealed other victims who had suffered.

Two youngsters had previously reported Conway, but there had been no charges at that time.

The trial heard how he groomed children by giving them gifts or sweets.

One ended up being repeatedly raped.

Another was preyed upon after Conway initially started tickling her.

A further of the victims recalled how he would “not take no for an answer”.

A woman he raped while she was asleep even had to pay him £2 each day to try and make sure he did not go near her.

The charges Conway was convicted of included rape, lewd and libidinous behaviour as well as sexual assault.

Scotland’s procurator fiscal for High Court sexual offences, Katrina Parkes, said: “Michael Conway is an opportunistic abuser who exploited his position of trust to sexually offend against these women and young girls.

“Despite his depraved actions inflicting unimaginable trauma, the victims showed incredibly bravery giving evidence which has ensured he has now been convicted and held accountable.

“We would urge any victim of similar crime not to suffer in silence but to report it, no matter how long ago the offences occurred.

“You will be listened to and supported as we seek to secure justice using all the tools available to us.”