DUNFERMLINE MAN DAVID SYMON SENTENCED FOR GHB-DRUGGED RAPE IN EDINBURGH

In a landmark case marking the first successful prosecution of its kind in Scotland, David Symon, a 32-year-old resident of Dunfermline, was sentenced to five years in prison for the heinous crime of drugging and raping a young woman. The proceedings took place at the High Court in Edinburgh, where Symon was brought before the judge and jury to face serious allegations.

As the court session commenced, Symon was led into the courtroom and, upon being remanded into custody, shouted that he was innocent of the charges against him. Despite his protests, the jury swiftly reached a unanimous verdict, finding him guilty of administering gammahydroxybutyrate, commonly known as GHB or liquid ecstasy, to his victim with the intent to incapacitate her for sexual assault.

The case centered around a disturbing incident involving a 21-year-old mother who attended a party where Symon was present. During the trial, it was revealed that a plastic bottle containing traces of GHB was offered to the woman. She testified that after consuming the contents of the bottle, she experienced a severe and overwhelming sensation, feeling as if her head was about to explode. Her next clear memory was of waking up with Symon on top of her, indicating she had been rendered unconscious.

The judge, Roger Craik QC, described the assault as particularly serious and emphasized that the use of the drug aggravated the crime. He stated, “It is not suggested by anyone, not even the woman herself, that it was secreted in a drink or anything of the sort, but the jury seems to have accepted that she did not know what it was that she was being given to drink.” This acknowledgment underscores the malicious intent behind Symon’s actions and the dangerous nature of drug-facilitated sexual assault.

Throughout the trial, Symon chose not to give evidence in his own defense. Instead, he was represented by a police interview tape in which he claimed that the woman had been a willing participant. He also suggested that she might have been unknowingly given the drug by someone else, an assertion that the jury ultimately rejected. The court found that Symon had deliberately provided the woman with GHB and had repeatedly raped her while she was incapacitated, a crime that has now been firmly established in Scottish legal history.

Symon’s conviction and subsequent sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by drug-facilitated sexual assaults and the importance of justice for victims. The case has garnered significant attention, highlighting the need for increased awareness and preventative measures against such heinous acts in social settings across Scotland.