RODNEY BOYD REHOUSED IN EDINBURGH NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER VIGILANTE ATTACKS
In a disturbing turn of events in Edinburgh, Rodney Boyd, a 67-year-old convicted sex offender, was forcibly driven from his home by a group of vigilantes who believed he posed a danger to the community.Despite the community's outrage and fears, Boyd was subsequently relocated back into the very same residence just two weeks later, raising serious concerns among local residents and authorities alike.
Boyd's history is marked by a series of heinous crimes.
He has served an eight-year prison sentence for sexual assaults committed against two young boys, aged six and eight, during the 1970s.
Recently, he was found guilty of similar offenses involving two brothers, aged six and eight, and had his bail extended after the verdict.
The community's anger was palpable when a mob stormed a nearby house, mistakenly believing it was Boyd’s residence, and forcibly removed him from his temporary accommodation in another part of Edinburgh.
Despite the community's protests, local council officials decided that Boyd could safely return to his original home after a fortnight in temporary housing.
This decision has sparked fear among neighbors, with one expressing their concern: “We are living in fear this gang will return and pick on an innocent person.” Another vigilante commented, “This guy is a risk to our children,” underscoring the community’s ongoing anxiety about Boyd’s presence.
Meanwhile, Boyd’s troubling behavior has continued to attract attention.
In August 2007, he was released after serving a five-year sentence for abusing two boys.
Since then, he has been observed spending long periods sitting in his car outside Flora Stevenson Primary School in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge area, where his elderly mother, Mabel, resides at the Carlyle Court old folks’ home.
During a week-long investigation, Boyd was seen staring intently at pupils for up to 40 minutes at a time, often during school breaks, raising suspicions among residents and school staff.
His routine includes frequent seat changes within his vehicle, which he often parks in the vicinity of the school and other nearby locations, including St George’s School for Girls.
Despite being registered as disabled and walking with a stick, Boyd’s suspicious activities continue to cause unease among the local community.
Police officers, who regularly patrol the area, have not received formal complaints about gangs or similar disturbances, but concerns remain about Boyd’s behavior.
Historical records reveal that Boyd was convicted of four sex offenses in 2000, involving repeated assaults on the two boys over a two-year period in the 1970s.
One victim was between six and eight years old, and the other between eight and ten.
Boyd denied the charges during his 2000 court appearance at Edinburgh’s High Court but was found guilty by a unanimous jury.
Principal teacher of Flora Stevenson Primary, Ian Marchant, expressed his frustration, stating, “I will be talking to my contacts in Lothian and Borders police.
It seems schools are the last ones to know about this kind of thing.” A police spokesperson emphasized the importance of monitoring, saying, “Without monitoring or supervision, the likelihood of re-offending is far greater than with someone who is closely monitored by the authorities.” As the community grapples with the unsettling presence of a known sex offender, questions about the adequacy of current measures and the safety of local residents remain at the forefront of public concern.
