EDINBURGH SEX OFFENDER RYAN GRANT STEEHOUER SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS FOR RAPE AND ABUSE
On 28 November 2023, at the High Court of Justiciary in Edinburgh, Ryan Grant Steehouder was found guilty after a trial of multiple serious offences, including rape and other related crimes.The conviction marked a significant legal action against him for his conduct towards a woman over an extended period.
Following the verdict, on 23 January 2024, Lord Doherty delivered the sentencing at the same court.
Steehouder was sentenced to a total of six years in prison, with an additional two-year extension period on licence, meaning he will remain under supervision in the community after serving his custodial term.
Furthermore, he will be subject to the notification requirements mandated by Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 indefinitely, reflecting the severity of his crimes.
A non-harassment order was also imposed, prohibiting him from approaching or contacting the victim for an indefinite period.
During the sentencing, Lord Doherty issued a stern statement highlighting the gravity of Steehouder’s offences.
He detailed that Steehouder had been convicted of serious sexual and violent crimes against a woman.
The charges included a rape, where Steehouder used violence to impose his will upon the victim, and a further offence under section 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2009, which involved degrading conduct towards the complainant.
The court also found that Steehouder had behaved in a threatening and abusive manner towards the woman over a span of four years, violating section 38 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.
Additionally, he was convicted of a series of assaults over nearly three years, one of which involved compressing her throat and restricting her breathing to the point of unconsciousness, putting her life in danger.
Lord Doherty emphasized that Steehouder’s behavior was characterized by violence, control, and abuse.
The court noted that this was not his first conviction for abusive conduct; he had previously been convicted on 29 May 2015 for breaching section 38 of the 2010 Act.
More significantly, on 11 August 2022, he was convicted under section 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, receiving a sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment for an offence involving the same complainant.
During that period, he was also convicted of two assaults, which resulted in an additional three months’ imprisonment.
In considering the case, Lord Doherty reviewed the Criminal Justice Social Work Report and listened to arguments on Steehouder’s behalf.
Despite his convictions, Steehouder continued to deny the charges, claiming that the complainants and witnesses had fabricated their accounts and conspired against him.
The judge criticized his refusal to accept responsibility and his attempts to undermine the credibility of the victims, noting that such conduct demonstrated a lack of insight into the harm caused.
The Victim Impact Statement from the complainant detailed the profound and ongoing effects of Steehouder’s actions.
The court acknowledged the serious consequences she faced and the lasting trauma inflicted upon her.
Regarding the sentencing for individual charges, Lord Doherty imposed a 12-month imprisonment for charge 1, which involved threatening and abusive behavior over several years, noting that the maximum sentence for this offence is five years.
For charges 2, 3, and 5, which involved assault, rape, and degrading conduct, the court determined that an extended sentence was necessary to protect current and future potential victims.
The combined custodial and extension period for these charges was set at eight years, consisting of six years in prison and a two-year extension on licence.
The court ordered that all sentences run concurrently, with the start date backdated to 27 November 2023, when Steehouder was remanded in custody.
As a result of his conviction, he is now subject to the strict notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for an indefinite period.
The court also issued a non-harassment order, ensuring that Steehouder must refrain from any contact or approach towards the victim indefinitely, aiming to protect her from further harm.
