JAMES MCALLISTER AND SHOCKING SEX OFFENCES IN EDINBURGH AND GILMERTON
A man named James McAllister has been convicted and sentenced for heinous sexual offences committed against an underage girl in Edinburgh, with acts spanning from 2002 to 2004.The case, which was tried in the High Court in Edinburgh, revealed a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior and exploitation carried out by McAllister, who is now 44 years old.
The victim, now a 33-year-old woman, recounted her traumatic experiences during the trial.
She explained that the ordeal began when her schoolfriend connected her with a man named James through a website similar to what she described as Being like a dating platform akin to Plenty of Fish.
Her friend, claiming they were both 18, arranged for them to meet with McAllister in Dalkeith, although the girl and her friend knew they were only around 13 years of age at the time.
To appear older, the teenage girl and her friend dressed up and used makeup, but admitted their attempts to look more mature were unsuccessful.
The duo waited in the bushes outside a library in Dalkeith until McAllister arrived in his car.
Once he arrived and was informed of their true ages, McAllister allegedly responded with an okay, instructing them to come to his vehicle.
Believing they were going for a casual drive, the girl got into the car with her friend.
However, things took a sinister turn when McAllister drove to a secluded area with no other vehicles around.
Her friend left the car, and she was left alone with McAllister, who began kissing her and engaging in inappropriate conduct.
She described the kiss as disgusting, tasting of cigarettes, and recounted that he started touching her and encouraged her to touch him, performing sexual acts that left her feeling sore.
During the encounter, McAllister also asked the girl to perform a sexual act on him, which she did not fully understand at the time.
Under questioning by the prosecution, the victim confirmed she believed McAllister knew she was only 13.
She recalled feeling petrified and frightened at the situation unfolding in front of her.
Later, McAllister contacted her again, expressing that he liked her, called her pretty, and offered to buy her drinks and provide her with television music channels.
He also purchased top-up cards for her phone, further manipulating her.
Subsequently, the girl and her friend met McAllister again near the library and were driven to a property in the Gilmerton area of Edinburgh.
There, she was given Bacardi Breezers by McAllister before he led her to a bedroom, where he instructed her to remove her clothes.
She described how McAllister stripped and performed a sex act on her, noting that his beard caused a burning sensation.
She then stated that he proceeded to rape her, which she found painful and requested him to stop.
Despite her pleas, he continued, saying it was meant to be sore, and persisted in his actions.
Eventually, she managed to rise from the bed, retrieve her clothes, and leave the room, but was in severe pain.
She described feeling overwhelmed and crying uncontrollably as they reached the Eskbank roundabout, a point she recognized from her journey.
Her distress was so profound that she requested to be let out of the car, and she burst into tears outside.
Following these incidents, the victim and her friend took the step of printing photographs of McAllister and posting them around Dalkeith, labeling him as a paedophile.
McAllister's actions came to light after the victim provided a police statement in 2018.
He was charged with multiple offences, including sexual assault and rape, and was tried and convicted on all counts.
The court heard that McAllister has prior convictions but had not previously served time in prison.
During the sentencing hearing, the judge, Lord Weir, described the offences as serious and emphasized the impact on the victim.
At the conclusion of proceedings, McAllister was remanded in custody, placed on the sex offender register, and the case was adjourned to allow for a background report to be prepared.
McAllister had been on bail during the trial but was remanded following his conviction, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the need for further assessment.
