FEARS RISE IN DALKEITH AS ROBERT MOFFAT, CHILD RAPIST, NEARS EARLY RELEASE

Concerns have been voiced following the revelation that Robert Moffat, a 41-year-old man from Dalkeith and convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl, is set to be released from prison early and without participating in a rehabilitation programme. Moffat, who has maintained his innocence throughout, refused to engage in sex offenders’ programmes while incarcerated. After his conviction, he appealed, claiming the victim’s testimony was based on scenes from the soap opera Brookside, an assertion dismissed by a judge. His impending release was disclosed via a petition to the Scottish Parliament, in which Moffat also raised issues about prison conditions.

He wrote from Dumfries prison, “My time in prison is almost over and I will be released within the next three months.” A prison source confirmed that Moffat was expected to be released on parole in the summer after serving only four years of his six-year sentence. It is also understood that he was transferred from the sex offenders’ unit at Peterhead Prison without undergoing rehabilitation, as he continually maintained his innocence.

Ann Stewart-Kmitcha, secretary of the Dalkeith and District Community Council, expressed concern about Moffat’s return to the community. “I am concerned that we have a lot of people in the community who are quite volatile,” she said. She added that Moffat's home area of Woodburn receives significant attention from groups working to curb antisocial behaviour.

Kenny MacAskill, SNP shadow justice and home affairs spokesman, emphasized that public safety should be the priority. “Obviously, he [Moffat] would have been assessed by the parole board and we have to accept that,” he stated. “Serious sex offenders are few but highly dangerous, and it is crucial they are properly monitored, not simply listed on the sex offenders’ register. That means the Scottish Executive must ensure police and social work departments are well-resourced. Public safety demands it.”

Moffat, who works as a delivery driver, was taken from the courtroom by police following a unanimous jury conviction in 2001. During the trial, it was revealed that the victim, a 13-year-old girl, had been babysitting while her mother went out with friends, including Moffat and his partner. When they returned with a takeaway, she went to bed. Moffat, who is described as weighing thirteen stones and standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, later assaulted her in her room.

The girl reported the incident to police, handing over a cigarette lighter and keys she claimed were left in her bed by Moffat, who allegedly fled after the assault.

A charity spokesperson from Children First stressed the importance of careful assessment before releasing sex offenders into the community, highlighting that they should only be released when it is deemed safe and that ongoing monitoring is essential. The Scottish Executive’s review of sex offender management was seen as a positive step.

Regarding his appeal, Moffat, then residing on Woodburn Drive in Dalkeith, asserted that the girl had fabricated her story after watching Channel 4’s Brookside, which depicted a rape storyline involving a character who was drugged and assaulted twice in quick succession. Moffat claimed he went to comfort the girl after a disagreement with her mother.

Historical reports from December 2001 noted that Moffat tried to escape incarceration using his claim that the victim's account was inspired by Brookside. He was serving a six-year sentence after a jury found him guilty of repeatedly raping the girl during a Christmas party in Midlothian. His lawyer, Robbie Burnett, revealed plans to appeal and sought a copy of the relevant TV episode.

In September 2001, Moffat, then 41, was on the run after failing to attend his appeal hearing, prompting a warrant for his arrest. The court had sentenced him to six years after the girl testified she felt too weak to shout during the assaults. His defence argued that he thought about reconsidering his case but would need hours to reach court, and his appeal was ultimately dismissed.

Back in October 2000, Moffat’s wife, Pearl Moffat, aged 38, publicly supported her husband despite his conviction. She described him as a devoted family man who loved their twin daughters, aged 14. She rejected the allegations, saying, “His family is his life. He worships his daughters and he’s a brilliant husband,” reflecting a tendency among some spouses to deny or minimize their partner’s crimes to preserve their family life.