Grant Farquhar

Grant Farquhar, an 18-year-old teenager, has been sentenced to four years in prison for a series of sexual assaults against three young girls in Edinburgh. The attacks occurred between May 2012 and December 2012, targeting girls aged between 13 and 15 at various locations across the city.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard details of how Farquhar subjected the victims—who cannot be named for legal reasons—to sexual attacks. One incident involved a 15-year-old girl assaulted underneath a stunt ramp at the South Edinburgh skate park in Southhouse Crescent. Additional assaults took place at various addresses in the Edinburgh area between November and December 2012, affecting another 15-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl.

Furthermore, the court learned that Farquhar bombarded two 13-year-old girls with shockingly explicit texts and Facebook messages. Temporary judge Michael O'Grady QC, passing sentence, stated: "It is clear that these charges are greatly concerning. It is quite clear that you have a preference for sexual activity with females younger than yourself." He added: "The background report also shows that you have little insight into accepting responsibility. I must impose a significant period of custody to protect young women."

Farquhar, who was a prisoner at the Young Offenders Institute in Polmont, Stirlingshire, at the time of sentencing, had pleaded not guilty to the charges. Last month, a jury deliberated for four hours before finding him guilty of sexual assault, having sex with underage girls, and sending sexually explicit and offensive communications. He was acquitted of rape, physical assault, and a charge alleging repeated sexual assaults against a 16-year-old boy between December 2010 and August 2012.

In addition to the four-year custodial sentence, Judge O'Grady ordered that Farquhar be supervised by the authorities for four years upon his release. The case was heard at the High Court in Edinburgh, with reporting by BBC News.