BRIAN HUNTER'S DARK PAST IN GLASGOW ENDS WITH DEATH AFTER CANCER DIAGNOSIS
In a tragic turn of events, Brian Hunter, a notorious sex offender with a long history of violence and criminality in Glasgow, passed away in January 2021, less than a month after being diagnosed with lung cancer.Hunter, aged 63 at the time of his death, was an inmate at Barlinnie Prison when he was transferred to Glasgow Royal Infirmary shortly before he succumbed to his illness, according to a Fatal Accident Inquiry report released this week.
Hunter's criminal record is marked by a series of heinous acts that spanned decades.
His most infamous conviction came in 1989 when he was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow to life imprisonment for the brutal rape of a 13-year-old girl in Bearsden on Christmas Day.
The young girl was walking home alone when Hunter, then 32, ambushed her.
He dragged her into a nearby garden, where he subjected her to a terrifying assault at knifepoint.
During the attack, Hunter threatened her life, robbed her of 20p, and left her emotionally scarred.
DNA evidence later confirmed his involvement.
Prior to this conviction, Hunter had a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.
He stalked and robbed six other women at knifepoint, often threatening to harm them or even cut off their fingers to steal their engagement and wedding rings.
His motives appeared to be driven by desperation and hunger, as he admitted to robbing women because he had no money and was hungry.
Hunter claimed that he would not have raped his young victim if he had known she was so young.
Following his 1989 sentencing, Hunter was released on licence after serving 17 years in prison.
However, his freedom was short-lived.
In January 2008, he committed a violent attack with a hammer on another woman in Glasgow’s south side, which resulted in a further four-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
His pattern of reoffending continued, and he was again released on licence in January 2016.
Yet, his freedom was again revoked in December 2018 after breaching the conditions of his release.
In December 2019, Hunter was diagnosed with lung cancer, a diagnosis that marked the beginning of his final chapter.
He was transferred to hospital on Boxing Day and remained there until his death on January 8, 2021.
The inquiry into his death, which is a legal requirement for individuals who die in custody, concluded that Hunter’s passing was an anticipated event caused by natural causes.
The report, authored by Sheriff Charles Lugton, confirmed that Hunter’s health deteriorated rapidly following his diagnosis, and his death was not deemed suspicious.
Throughout his life, Hunter’s criminal activities left a trail of trauma and fear among his victims.
His case highlights the persistent dangers posed by repeat offenders and the importance of vigilant monitoring and intervention.
His death marks the end of a long and troubling chapter in Glasgow’s criminal history, but the scars left by his actions continue to serve as a stark reminder of the need for ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable members of society.
