By Grâçia Ada Obi
An Ayrshire rapist who began abusing young girls when he was just 12 years old has been jailed.
Ian Dunlop, now 61, was found guilty of multiple historic sexual offence charges in May this year following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Dunlop, of Troon targeted the victims in the Ayrshire area over a five-year period after being asked to babysit the three children.
The girls were aged between five and eight when the abuse began, taking place between 1975 and 1980. Dunlop’s crimes were first reported to Police Scotland in 2021.
On Tuesday, at the High Court in Glasgow, Dunlop was sentenced to six years imprisonment. His name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Non-harassment orders, banning Dunlop from contacting or attempting to contact any of the victims, were also granted for an indefinite period.
Scotland’s Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offending, Katrina Parkes said:
“Ian Dunlop posed a danger to young girls over the course of several years and exploited his position of trust in the worst possible way.
“The trauma these victims suffered was at the forefront of our minds while working to secure this conviction.
“It is thanks to the bravery of those affected by Dunlop’s offending that he has been brought to justice. They should be commended for their bravery and courage.
“We would encourage anyone affected by similar offending to come forward – regardless of how much time has passed.
“You will be listened to and we will seek to secure justice using all the tools at our disposal.”
Judge Douglas Brown told Dunlop that the first victim was abused so often “she lost count. It was so frequent that she came to regard it as normal. You kept telling her it was a secret.
“The lasting impact on her is obvious. She could barely bring herself to say your name in evidence and was in tears. She says that you wrecked her life.”
The hearing was told the second victim has also been left badly traumatised.
Judge Brown: “The enduring impact on her again is obvious from her distress. She described you as ‘pure evil’ and has explained the devastating effect your behaviour has had on her stating it has changed her life forever.”
The court was told Dunlop had “destroyed” the life of the final rape survivor.
Judge Brown remarked the six-year sentence was lower that what it may have been.
He pointed to a number of factors including Dunlop’s age at the time, the near 45 years since the crimes were committed and that he had not re-offended as well as the rapist’s current ill-health.
Police in Ayrshire welcomed the sentencing.
Detective Sergeant Carley Picken said: “Ian Dunlop is a predatory individual who targeted three young females to his own ends.
“Despite the passage of time these women came forward and spoke to us, leading to his conviction. I hope this sentencing offers them comfort as they move on with their lives.
“We continue to be committed to bringing all perpetrators of sexual abuse to justice.”
