EDINBURGH SEX OFFENDER STEPHEN INGILIS FACES JAIL AFTER BREACHING COURT ORDERS AND JOINING RELIGIOUS CULT
In December 2020, a serious legal case unfolded involving Stephen Inglis, a man with a troubling criminal history rooted in Edinburgh.Inglis, now 32 years old, is facing the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence after a series of breaches to court-imposed restrictions designed to monitor and control his behavior.
Earlier this year, Inglis deliberately violated a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) by deleting his internet browsing history from his mobile device.
This act was a clear breach of the strict conditions set by the court, which explicitly prohibit the removal of any digital records such as texts, emails, or browsing history.
The order also forbids him from engaging in romantic relationships with women without prior notification to the Edinburgh offenders management unit, a measure intended to prevent further offending and to ensure compliance with the law.
The breaches did not stop there.
In August, police officers conducting routine checks on Inglis discovered that he had entered into a romantic relationship with a woman without informing the authorities, another violation of the SOPO.
When confronted, Inglis admitted to the police that he had indeed breached the conditions and even demanded to be taken into custody, signaling his awareness of the severity of his actions.
During a court appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Inglis acknowledged the breaches, which included deleting internet history and forming an unapproved relationship.
Sheriff Chris Dickson responded by remanding him in custody and postponed sentencing until the following month to allow for social work reports to be prepared, which will likely influence the final judgment.
A source close to the case revealed insights into Inglis’s state of mind, suggesting that he is deeply fearful of the outside world.
The source explained, “Inglis was terrified about being on the outside as people had started to find out what he had done to that poor woman all those years ago.
He feels like he will be protected if he is in prison rather than taking his chances on the streets of Edinburgh.
He constantly fears like he will be attacked if people know what kind of man he really is.
So he decided to hand himself in to the police again as he feels safer in jail.” Inglis’s criminal history is extensive and disturbing.
At just 19 years old, he committed a heinous sexual assault on a vulnerable woman in her Edinburgh home, which lasted for eight hours.
He pleaded guilty to charges of assault and rape at the High Court in Glasgow and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Additionally, he was placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, reflecting the gravity of his crimes.
His history also includes an earlier breach of the SOPO in 2017, when he was sentenced to eight months in prison after fleeing to join a religious cult in England.
Inglis became involved with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, a religious movement based at Carroty Wood in Kent.
Photographs from that period show him participating in a baptism ceremony dressed in purple robes at a local swimming pool, alongside female church members who were unaware of his past as a convicted sex offender.
Further complicating his story, Inglis admitted to being engaged to a nun within the church, describing their relationship as “like husband and wife,” which raised serious concerns about her safety.
The bizarre and troubling details of his involvement with the religious group only came to light after Inglis confided in a project worker about his participation, referring to the group as “a mad religious cult.” Authorities were subsequently informed, leading to his return to court to face new charges related to his breaches and associations.
As the case continues, the focus remains on Inglis’s ongoing legal proceedings and the potential for a significant custodial sentence, given the severity of his violations and his criminal past.
The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the justice system in managing individuals with complex and dangerous histories, especially when they attempt to circumvent restrictions designed to protect the public.
