A 23-year-old man, Liam Begg, is facing a long jail term after a High Court in Edinburgh found him guilty of horrific sexual crimes against two children. The predator, who is currently being held at Inverness prison, targeted his victims in the town of Wick over the course of two years.
The court heard that in April 2017, Begg attacked a six-year-old boy at a private home. He stripped the child before committing repulsive sex acts and rape against the defenseless victim. This act of cruelty left a deep scar on the community.
Begg did not stop there. Exactly one year later, in April 2018, he struck again at Bignold Park. This time, he cornered a 14-year-old girl, exposing himself and forcing the teenager to perform sexual acts on him while he molested her.
During his trial, Begg pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the evidence against him was overwhelming. Although he was cleared of one additional sexual assault charge, the judge, Lady Ross, made it clear that the convictions for the rape and assault of the minors are extremely grave.
Lady Ross has ordered background and risk assessment reports to determine the danger Begg poses to the public before his sentencing on July 8. The judge will also review victim impact statements to understand the full extent of the trauma caused by his actions.
Following his conviction, the court placed Begg on the sex offenders’ register. He remains in custody until he returns to court next month to hear his final punishment.
Source: news.stv.tv
