DEAN STEVENS SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR ATTACK IN FIFE'S DUNFERMLINE PARK
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Fife, Dean Stevens, a known repeat sex offender, has been handed a life sentence following a brutal assault on a woman in Dunfermline.The incident took place in Pittencrieff Park last May, where Stevens targeted a woman who was simply walking to meet a colleague for a ride to work.
The victim, aged 25, was making her way through the park early on a Sunday morning when she was suddenly attacked by Stevens.
She attempted to defend herself, screaming for help, and managed to bite his fingers as he tried to push her to the ground.
Her quick thinking and resistance allowed her to escape and reach home safely, after which she promptly contacted the police to report the assault.
Law enforcement officials acted swiftly, and Stevens, aged 40, was identified as the suspect.
He was arrested at his residence in Fife just a few days after the attack.
During a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh, Stevens pleaded guilty to the charge of assault with intent to rape.
The court proceedings were conducted via video-link from prison, where he is currently incarcerated.
In sentencing, Judge Lady Carmichael ordered Stevens to serve a minimum of 27 months behind bars.
However, given the severity of his crimes and his criminal history, she also imposed a lifelong restriction order, known as an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR).
This means that Stevens will only be eligible for release if the Parole Board determines he no longer poses a threat to women and girls.
Additionally, he will be subject to continuous monitoring and supervision for the rest of his life, and he has been placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.
During the sentencing, Lady Carmichael emphasized the gravity of Stevens’ actions and his dangerous history.
She stated, “You pleaded guilty to assaulting a woman who was previously unknown to you with the intention of raping her.
You were apparently intoxicated at the time.
You followed her as she was on her way to work early in the morning, and attacked her in a park in Dunfermline.” She further highlighted Stevens’ past convictions, including a 2006 sentence of an extended 9-year term, which included 6 years of imprisonment, for raping a 15-year-old girl who was not known to him.
More recently, in 2018, he was given a community payback order for breaching the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, and was under supervision for 36 months at the time of the latest offence.
Lady Carmichael concluded by referencing a risk assessment report, which indicated that Stevens presents a high likelihood of reoffending in a similar manner.
She remarked, “He has an enduring propensity to cause serious harm to the public, and limited capacity for change.” The judge underscored that the sentence is indefinite, and Stevens’ release will only occur when the Parole Board is satisfied that his continued imprisonment is necessary for public safety.
