Dene Stevenson

On 20 October 2017, in Livingston, Scotland, 18-year-old Dene Stevenson committed a calculated sexual assault on a vulnerable 14-year-old girl. While under the influence of alcohol himself, Stevenson befriended a group of much younger girls and supplied the victim with alcohol, leading her into muddy woodland where he carried out the rape.

The assault involved Stevenson lying on top of the intoxicated and defenceless girl, pulling down her lower clothing, forcing her legs apart, and attempting to lick her vagina. He repeatedly tried to penetrate her vagina with his penis, forced her head towards his penis, restrained her, and ultimately penetrated her vagina. The incident left the girl in a distressed and dishevelled state, prompting her to telephone a friend immediately afterwards, stating that she had been raped by Stevenson. Witnesses also observed her distress following the attack.

Stevenson later admitted to the girl's father that he had had intercourse with her. The case proceeded to trial at Livingston High Court, where a jury found him guilty of rape. At the High Court in Edinburgh on 10 December 2020, Lord Uist delivered the sentencing, emphasising the gravity of the offence. In his statement, Lord Uist remarked: "Rape is obviously a serious crime which must attract a significant sentence and in this case it is aggravated by the fact that it was a calculated attack in a public place on a defenceless 14 year old girl who had had far too much to drink." The judge considered Stevenson's age at the time of the offence (18), his current age (21), his history of drug and alcohol abuse, unemployment, and a minor previous conviction, which was disregarded for sentencing purposes. A criminal justice social work report and mitigation arguments were also reviewed.

Stevenson, now 21, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, effective from 23 October 2020. As a result, he is subject to the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 indefinitely. This case highlights the judiciary's commitment to imposing substantial penalties for sexual offences against minors, as detailed in the official sentencing statement published by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.