SCOTT TULLIS OF FIFE AND PERTHSHIRE SENTENCED FOR MULTIPLE SEXUAL OFFENCES AND VIOLENCE
A man identified as Scott Tullis has been detained following a series of heinous sexual crimes committed against women in the regions of Perthshire and Fife.The 31-year-old, who has a troubling history of sexual violence, was convicted of attacking two women—one of whom he assaulted multiple times—and indecently assaulting a teenage girl.
His actions have left a lasting impact on his victims, and his case has garnered significant attention in the local judicial system.
Details of the case reveal that Tullis’s criminal behavior began at a young age.
When he was just 16 years old, he targeted his youngest victim, a girl who was only 13 at the time.
She recounted to the High Court in Stirling that she had never kissed a boy before the incident.
She described how Tullis, described as muscular, cornered her in July 2009 in She.
Despite her efforts to push him away, he placed his hand behind her neck and subjected her to a sexual assault.
Before fleeing the scene on a motorbike, he warned her not to tell anyone.
Overcome with shock, panic, and distress, the girl quickly sought refuge at a nearby friend’s house and confided in her mother that same night, prompting her mother to contact the police.
As an adult, Tullis, who now works as an air conditioning engineer, continued his pattern of violence and sexual assault.
Between 2015 and 2020, he repeatedly raped a woman at various addresses in Fife and Perthshire.
His assaults included raping her twice while she was asleep and on other occasions when she was awake.
His violence extended beyond sexual acts, as he physically assaulted her, threatened her, and persistently demanded sex, demonstrating a blatant disregard for her well-being.
The woman, now aged 34, described Tullis as “a man without boundaries, a man without shame, who believed sex was his right.” Further violence was inflicted upon a third woman, a 22-year-old, in Kirkcaldy in April 2021.
During this attack, Tullis seized her by the neck, bit her thigh, raped her, and headbutted her in the face.
She recounted feeling her “eyes roll back in her head” when he applied pressure to her neck, illustrating the severity of the assault.
The court heard that Tullis initially appeared charming to his victims but later revealed his true nature as a violent sexual abuser.
Following a five-day trial, the jury deliberated for two days before returning guilty verdicts on multiple charges.
Tullis was found guilty of five counts of rape, one of indecent assault, one of assault causing injury, one of threatening and abusive behavior, and one of engaging in a course of domestic abuse.
A charge of assaulting the 22-year-old woman to the point of danger was not proven, and he was acquitted of another assault charge.
During the verdict announcement on Wednesday, Tullis hung his head in the dock, showing remorse or resignation.
The court remanded him into custody pending reports, with sentencing scheduled for April 11.
At the sentencing hearing held at the High Court in Livingston, Lord Young imposed an extended sentence of 13 years on Tullis.
The sentence comprises a nine-year prison term followed by a four-year period on license, during which he will be under supervision in the community.
Tullis was also ordered to register as a sex offender and is subject to non-harassment orders preventing him from approaching or contacting his victims for a period of 15 years.
In his remarks, Lord Young emphasized the gravity of Tullis’s offenses, noting that they involved coercion, aggression, and control over his female partners.
He highlighted that the earliest offenses occurred when Tullis was 16, with subsequent crimes committed between the ages of approximately 20 and 28.
The judge acknowledged Tullis’s previous convictions, which were at a summary level, and considered his good work record, his relationship with his children, and his supportive family.
The judge also recognized that Tullis has acknowledged issues with excessive alcohol consumption and has taken steps to address this problem.
However, Lord Young expressed concern about the persistent nature of Tullis’s offending and the risk he poses to women upon his release.
As a result, he decided to impose an extended sentence, combining imprisonment with supervised release.
The sentences for specific charges include nine months each for two separate assault charges, to run consecutively but concurrently with the overall extended sentence.
The sentences are backdated to March 13, 2024, the date of Tullis’s initial remand.
Furthermore, Tullis is now subject to the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 for an indefinite period, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes.
The court’s orders aim to protect the victims and prevent further harm, with the non-harassment orders serving as additional safeguards against contact with the victims involved in charges 2 through 8 and charge 11.
The case underscores the importance of justice for victims of sexual violence and the ongoing efforts of the legal system to hold offenders accountable.
