ERICK FRAGNITO SENTENCED IN DUNFERMLINE FOR RAPE OF MISSING 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN BURNTSILLAND

A man from Dunfermline who committed a serious sexual offence against a missing 12-year-old girl has been handed a five-year prison sentence. Erick Fragnito, aged 27, was involved in the assault that took place at his former residence in Burntisland during June 2023. The incident came to light after the girl, who had been reported missing after failing to return home the night before, was found to have been exploited by Fragnito.

According to court proceedings, Fragnito encountered the young girl and her friends before inviting them into his house. During this visit, he consumed alcohol and smoked cannabis, with the girl also partaking in these substances. It was during this vulnerable state that Fragnito exploited her, leading to a sexual assault and rape. The court heard that Fragnito believed the girl was older than her actual age, which he claimed was a mistake. Despite this, he admitted to the charges of sexual assault and rape during his appearance at the High Court in Glasgow.

Fragnito’s appearance in court was marked by his guilty plea, which resulted in a reduction of his original sentence from six to five years, as decided by Lord Mulholland. Additionally, the court ordered that Fragnito be placed on the sex offenders register for life, reflecting the severity of his crimes.

It was also revealed that Fragnito had been scheduled to appear in court earlier but failed to do so, leading to the issuance of a warrant for his arrest. During the sentencing, Lord Mulholland emphasized the seriousness of the offence, stating: "As you now know, having sex with a 12-year-old girl is rape - that is the law. There was a large age gap between you and her. You were a mature adult and should have controlled the situation." The judge also noted that a pre-sentencing social work report was not favorable to Fragnito, although specific details of the report were not disclosed.

Overall, the case highlights the grave nature of sexual offences involving minors and the legal consequences faced by offenders in Scotland, particularly in the Dunfermline and Burntisland areas where the incident occurred.