Angry mob descends on rapist’s home

Jun 11 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A TEENAGE rapist has fled his Livingston home after angry parents became worried about him living opposite a primary school.

Police took Jason Middleton away to a secret address on Thursday evening after a mob of nearly 100 people gathered outside his Livingston home.

A video of the incident was captured by a local resident and can be seen here.

Middleton is awaiting sentence after he admitted raping an underage girl he was babysitting.

She fell pregnant as a result of the attack and had her baby daughter adopted.

Parents had started congregating outside Middleton’s house last Thursday morning after they became concerned he was watching their children as they took part in a school sports day.

Amid angry scenes windows at the home were smashed as residents threatened to take the law into their own hands if the 19-year-old remained at the address.

As the crowd hurled abuse at the teenager he responded by smiling and making obscene gestures.

Police arrived and made the decision to remove the sex beast for his own safety as the mood among the residents darkened.

They cheered and jeered as Middleton was escorted from the end-terrace council house by officers and driven off.

One resident told the Courier they were horrified Middleton had been allowed to stay so close to a school.

She said: “It was school sports day and he had been at the window watching the kids.

“When a few of us went over he just stood there watching the whole time.

“The parents were totally horrified and some phoned the police and the council to demand something was done about him but they said there was nothing they could do.

“But when more parents joined us outside his home when the school finished up, the police had to come out.

“I can’t believe he was released on bail and allowed to stay there.

“All the kids who go to the school have to pass by his door.

“If he hadn’t been moved, someone would have taken action themselves.

“He couldn’t stay here. He’d be attacked every time he left his house.

“We got rid of him but we wouldn’t wish him on any other community.”

Middleton raped the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in September 2005.

She gave birth to a girl in 2006 and DNA tests later confirmed Middleton was the father.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that since giving up the child for adoption, the victim has tried to kill herself several times.

Middleton will be sentenced next month after his lawyers produce a psychological report.