JOHN ANGUS FROM INVERNESS ESCAPES POLICE SURVEILLANCE AND ATTACKS WOMAN IN ABERDEEN

In a disturbing series of events, John Angus, a known sex offender with a lengthy criminal history, managed to evade police supervision in Inverness and subsequently carried out a serious assault in Aberdeen. Despite being under close watch by law enforcement, Angus was able to slip away from their surveillance and travel to Aberdeen, where he committed a violent attack on a woman.

Angus’s criminal record is extensive, including convictions for indecent assault, assault, robbery, and a particularly severe sentence of 10 years for a combination of assault, robbery, and abduction. His release from prison in February of the previous year was followed by his placement on a Sex Offenders Prevention Order (SOPO) on February 12. However, his freedom was short-lived, as just five days later, he was caught attempting to flee the city on two separate occasions. These breaches resulted in a two-year jail sentence for violating the conditions of his SOPO.

Following his early release, authorities reimposed the SOPO on February 15, aiming to monitor his activities more closely. Despite this, Angus again absconded in May, which ultimately led to his latest criminal act in Aberdeen. The assault involved attacking a woman, details of which have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of current monitoring systems for high-risk offenders.

Most recently, Angus faced a conviction in the High Court in Inverness for a heinous incident involving a 21-year-old woman. He was found guilty of drugging her, removing her clothing while she was unconscious, and exposing himself. The case has been adjourned until December 22 in Edinburgh for further reports and sentencing considerations.

Jim Ferguson, who chairs the Inverness Crime Prevention Panel, voiced strong criticism regarding the management and supervision of offenders like Angus. He suggested that such individuals should not be released from prison at all or, if they are, only after undergoing chemical castration. Ferguson emphasized the danger posed by serial sex offenders, stating, "Serial sex offenders should be locked up and just not allowed out," underscoring his belief that Angus remains a significant threat to the public, especially to adult females.

Authorities, including the Northern Constabulary, have declined to comment publicly on the incident, citing ongoing investigations. This case underscores the ongoing concerns about the adequacy of monitoring systems and the overall management of high-risk offenders within the community, raising questions about whether current measures are sufficient to prevent such dangerous individuals from reoffending.