West Lothian man sent down for raping underage girl

Jul 9 2009 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A TEENAGER has been jailed for four years for raping an underage schoolgirl who went on to give birth to his child.

Jason Middleton, 19, who attacked the girl in West Lothian almost four years ago while he was supposed to be babysitting her, will also be supervised for two years after his release.

The girl had intercourse with another young man at around the same time and it was only established later through DNA tests that Middleton was the father, the High Court in Glasgow heard.

His victim gave birth and gave the child up for adoption. The High Court heard the young girl has since tried to kill herself several times.

Judge Rita Rae sentenced Middleton to four years in jail after he pleaded guilty to the rape.

Middleton’s solicitor Richard Goddard said he had endured a “wretched” upbringing and had been in and out of foster care.

The court heard he was “wrecked on crack cocaine” at the time of the rape, which happened between September 23 and 30, 2005.

The judge told him: “Neither the social inquiry report nor the psychological report make good reading. You appear to have fairly entrenched views on violence and about drug and alcohol abuse.”

The judge went on: “You have used this to excuse your actions and you also appear to blame the complainer in this case for instigating sexual contact.”

Mr Goddard said Middleton, who was 16 at the time of the offence “did not enjoy the appropriate moral or social structure” while growing up.

He added Middleton was brought up in a “desperate and highly dysfunctional family situation”.

The judge said: “I appreciate you have had a poor background but nothing can now change that. You will have to take responsibility for your actions in the future.”

The defence asked for an alternative to jail, adding that Middleton would benefit from “considerable psychological input”.

But Judge Rae said that due to Middleton’s attitude, the effect on the girl and the absence of any other realistic options, prison had to be imposed.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Last month the Courier told how the rapist was forced to flee a Livingston home he was staying in after angry parents became worried about him living opposite a primary school.

Police took Middleton away to a secret address after a mob of nearly 100 people gathered outside the Livingston address in June.

Parents had started congregating outside Middleton’s house 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.