STEVEN MURDOCH FROM DUMFRIES SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN ROMFORD AND KIRKPATRICK-FLEMING

In December 2014, Steven Murdoch, a man whose life has seen significant changes over the years, was convicted of a heinous crime committed in east London. The incident involved the abduction and sexual assault of a woman, an event that shocked the local community and drew widespread condemnation.

Murdoch, then 36 years old, was observed targeting his victim late at night as she made her way home from a social outing in Romford. The woman, aged 30, had become separated from her friends and was walking alone in the early hours, unaware of the danger lurking nearby. Murdoch, who had parked his vehicle near the grounds of Romford Rugby Club, followed her on foot with malicious intent.

According to reports, Murdoch approached the woman and suddenly struck her over the head, rendering her unconscious. He then forcibly lifted her onto his shoulder, as captured by CCTV footage, which showed him running with her through the entrance of the rugby club. The victim attempted to call for help by dialing 999, but Murdoch responded with violence, punching her and snatching her phone away. The assault escalated as he forced her to perform oral sex before raping her multiple times on a concrete ramp within the club grounds.

Prosecutor Richard Germain described the disturbing scene to the court, noting that Murdoch eventually returned the woman's phone and began to cry. The police, determined to bring him to justice, conducted an extensive investigation, meticulously analyzing hours of CCTV footage. By matching fragments of a Vauxhall Astra's number plate from different clips, authorities were able to identify Murdoch as the suspect.

He was subsequently arrested at his residence in Dumfries, Scotland, where he had relocated and was living under the surname Lockhart in Kirkpatrick-Fleming. During his trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, Murdoch admitted to two counts of rape and one count of assault by beating.

The court sentenced him to nine years in prison. Judge Sheelagh Canavan expressed her condemnation of his actions, stating, “In September this year, your victim’s world was a normal one; she went out with her friends, had a few drinks, and was enjoying a pleasant evening. It was a perfectly normal life, and you took that from her. Whatever I do with you today, I cannot give back what you took from her.”

She further emphasized the severity of the crime, describing Murdoch’s conduct as “heinous, wicked, and awful,” and acknowledged that the sentence could not fully compensate for the trauma inflicted. The judge ordered Murdoch to sign the sex offenders’ register and prohibited him from working with children and vulnerable adults, underscoring the seriousness of his violations and the ongoing risk he poses to society.