Patrick Chinskie, one of Scotland’s most notorious sex offenders, was jailed for life in 2015 following his conviction for a series of brutal rapes spanning 23 years. Described by the court as a clear danger to women, the 55-year-old from Strathspey targeted victims across multiple locations in Scotland, including Paisley, Nairn, Inverness, Bathgate, and Glasgow. His attacks were marked by extreme violence, involving makeshift weapons, knives, and other tools that left some victims permanently disfigured.
The offences began as early as 1990, with Chinskie's first known victim enduring repeated rapes between 1990 and 1993 in Glasgow and West Lothian. In one harrowing incident, he jumped onto the bonnet of her car as she attempted to flee, smashing through the windscreen to continue the assault. Another victim was attacked with metal pliers, dragged from a car, raped in a field, and later burnt with cigarettes; Chinskie even demanded she have an abortion. These acts of sadistic cruelty underscored the severity of his crimes, leading to his sentencing under an Order for Lifelong Restriction with an initial punishment term of seven years.
Despite the life sentence, Chinskie became eligible for parole after time served on remand reduced his minimum term to just over five years. Victims were notified by the Scottish Prison Service of an upcoming parole hearing scheduled for later in the summer of 2020. This development has reignited trauma for those affected, with his first victim, now 58 and a grandmother, expressing profound betrayal by the justice system. She stated: “If he is freed, there is no justice in the world.” Forced to relocate from her lifelong home in a West Lothian village to escape him, she described the ongoing psychological toll: “I still have flashbacks today of the awful things he inflicted on me... When I received a letter from the parole board last Wednesday telling me that he is applying for early release, I was physically sick.”
Sandy Brindley, chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, criticised the system, saying: “There is something very wrong with a system which puts these women through the agony of having to confront the prospect of his release after only five years into a life sentence.” The Parole Board of Scotland explained that such prisoners are considered for release on licence at the end of their punishment part, but only if deemed safely manageable in the community. However, victims like Chinskie's first, who testified to prevent further attacks, feel the process undermines the gravity of his crimes and their suffering.
The case highlights broader issues in Scotland’s handling of sexual offences, where survivors often face re-traumatisation through legal proceedings and parole considerations. Chinskie’s hearing represents a pivotal moment, with victims advocating for his continued detention to protect the public.