DOUGLAS EWEN'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN ABERDEEN: LIFETIME RESTRICTION FOR SERIAL SEX OFFENDER
In February 2019, a severe legal action was taken against Douglas Ewen, a notorious sex offender from Aberdeen, who has a long history of predatory behavior spanning over four decades.Ewen, aged 59 at the time, was convicted of a total of 18 criminal offenses involving 10 victims, with most incidents occurring within Aberdeen itself, although some took place in other parts of the north east of Scotland.
During a high-profile hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh, Lord Kinclaven delivered the verdict, sentencing Ewen to a life imprisonment term.
The court also imposed a lifelong restriction order (OLR), a measure that ensures Ewen remains under supervision and control for the rest of his life, unless authorities determine that he no longer poses a threat to public safety.
The judge explicitly warned that Ewen would only be eligible for release if it is deemed that he no longer constitutes a danger to society.
The court heard that Ewen’s sexual offending began as early as 1976, when he targeted a young girl, initially molesting her and subsequently raping her.
Lord Kinclaven emphasized the gravity of Ewen’s crimes, stating, “There is clearly no alternative to a custodial sentence.
No other method of dealing with you is appropriate.” Throughout the trial, Ewen’s defense counsel, David Moggach, maintained that his client still insisted on his innocence regarding the charges that the jury found him guilty of.
Despite this, the evidence presented in court painted a disturbing picture of a man with a long history of sexual and violent offenses.
Ewen’s criminal activities began in 1974 when he was still a teenager.
His first known offense involved physically assaulting a woman in the Balnagask area of Aberdeen, where he repeatedly punched her.
The pattern of violence and sexual misconduct continued over the years, with Ewen’s crimes escalating to include child rape, sexual assault of women, physical assaults, and threatening behavior.
His most heinous acts involved the abuse of a young girl, whom he molested from the age of five before eventually raping her.
The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of Ewen’s crimes and the ongoing concern for public safety, especially given the nature and duration of his offending history.
The lifetime restriction order ensures that Ewen remains under strict supervision, with the possibility of release only if authorities determine he no longer poses a risk, a decision that is unlikely given the severity of his offenses and the evidence presented during the trial.
