Kevin Storey

Kevin Storey, a 48-year-old former police officer from Melrose in the Scottish Borders, was sentenced to 12 years in prison at the High Court in Edinburgh for a series of violent and sexual offences committed against three women and a child over several decades.

The court heard that Storey, who had served 28 years with the police and received commendations for acts of bravery including river rescues and preventing a suicide, abused his position of authority. Despite his 'long and honourable record of police service', as noted in the proceedings, his actions were described by prosecutor Paul Arthurson QC as 'appalling crimes' that rendered him 'a disgrace to your former uniform'.

Storey was convicted of eight charges following a trial in November 2014. These included rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, and assault. The offences spanned from 1989 onwards. His first victim was assaulted in 1989 at a house in Galashiels, where she was grabbed by the body, pushed out of the house, and seized by the neck. A second woman, now 46, endured assaults and an attempted rape at addresses in the Borders town during the 1990s. A third woman, now 41, suffered rape, indecent assault, and violence beginning in the 1990s.

• One victim testified that she feared Storey was 'untouchable' due to his status as a police officer and membership in the Masons.
• She described feeling 'used' by him and found some of his sexual practices 'painful and disgusting'.
• Storey was also found guilty of assaulting a two-year-old boy by shouting at him and grabbing him by his upper clothing.

Defence counsel Shelagh McCall highlighted Storey's background, including his training in public order and deployment at events like the Brixton riots, and submitted character references from members of the public, police support staff, and retired officers. A background report acknowledged Storey's alcohol problem, though he did not use it as an excuse for his behaviour. Storey resigned from the police following his conviction.

In addition to the 12-year custodial sentence, Storey was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely and ordered to be under supervision for three years upon release. Ch Supt Gill Imery of Police Scotland's Lothians and Borders division stated: 'Kevin Storey's complete contempt and disregard for his victims shows him to be a callous individual whose actions have fallen significantly short of the high standards of professional behaviour we expect as an organisation.' Det Ch Insp Sam McCluskey of the domestic abuse task force praised the victims' 'great strength' in reporting the offences, noting: 'Over the course of two decades Kevin Storey systematically targeted and abused various women... Today's sentence should send a very clear message that, whoever you are, domestic abuse is simply not acceptable and will not be tolerated.'

The case underscores the severity with which Scottish authorities treat domestic and sexual abuse, particularly when perpetrated by those in positions of trust. Related coverage includes reports from BBC News on Storey's initial court appearance in May 2013 and his conviction in November 2014.