OWEN ORR SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON IN EDINBURGH FOR MULTIPLE SEXUAL OFFENSES

Owen Orr, a 24-year-old man identified as a serial rapist, has received an 11-year prison sentence for his heinous crimes against multiple women.

He was convicted of raping four women and subjected two of them to repeated sexual assaults. Additionally, he physically assaulted a fifth victim.

The offenses took place across different locations in the Scottish Borders and Midlothian. During the High Court proceedings in Edinburgh, Lord Doherty described Orr’s misconduct as "an appalling catalogue of sexual violence and abusive behaviour." Despite the severity of his crimes, Orr demonstrated no remorse and denied responsibility.

Orr’s criminal activity began in 2018 in Hawick, where he exhibited violence by throwing a can at a victim and punching her in the face. Between September 2019 and December 2020, he abused another woman, raping her while she was pregnant.

His pattern of offending continued with attacks on additional victims in subsequent years, including multiple rapes in Melrose and Penicuik. Following his sentencing, Orr has been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. The judge, Lord Doherty, also ordered strict non-harassment measures to prevent Orr from contacting any of his victims, along with supervision in the community after his release from prison.

On 29 May 2024, at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh, Owen Kevin Orr was convicted after trial of four counts of rape involving four women, with two of those charges involving multiple rapes. He was also convicted of abusive behaviour towards three women under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, and an assault causing injury to a fifth woman.

During sentencing on 24 July 2024, Lord Doherty stated:

"Owen Kevin Orr, you have been convicted of five charges of rape involving four women. Two charges involved multiple rapes. You have also been convicted of abusive behaviour towards three women, and an injury assault on another.

The Criminal Justice Social Inquiry Report notes that you deny responsibility and show no remorse. Evidence shows your offending has caused serious emotional and psychological harm to your victims.

While I acknowledge your background and some mental health issues, the abusive acts began when you were 17 or 18, with the first rape at age 20, and continued until you were 22. At the time of sentencing, you were just under 24. You are eligible for the Sentencing of Young Persons guideline, given your youth and immaturity at the time.

Your crimes constitute an egregious pattern of sexual violence and abuse. The sentence aims to punish appropriately and protect the public, particularly young women.

A combined (in cumulo) sentence will be imposed for all offenses.

The court finds that a standard license period would be insufficient to safeguard the public, hence an extended sentence of 15 years' imprisonment. This includes a custodial term of 11 years and an extension period of 4 years in the community.

The 11-year custodial sentence will be partly attributed to domestic abuse aggravations and bail-related aggravations, totaling 6 months each.

The remaining 4 years will be served as a license, with conditions set by the Scottish Ministers. If he fails to comply, he could be revoked and returned to prison. The sentence is backdated to 6 September 2022, the date of his remand.

Furthermore, Orr is subject to a non-harassment order preventing him from approaching, contacting, or communicating with each of his five victims indefinitely, including the child of one of the victims. He will also remain subject to the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for an indefinite period.