Sex offender Stephen Devlin was jailed after raping a schoolgirl in Paisley when she was 12

A high-risk sex offender who raped a girl when she was 12 has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Stephen Devlin raped a younger child in a house in Paisley, Renfrewshire in 2006.

A judge praised the victim for the “tremendous courage” she showed after giving evidence at Devlin’s trial earlier this year.

Lady Haldane said the author of a background report on Devlin, now 30, believed he posed a high risk of further sexual offending.

Devlin had denied attacking and raping the 11-year-old girl between June 1 and August 31, 2006.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that despite his conviction, he continued to insist that the crime simply did not take place.

The court heard that Devlin committed further sexual offences and other crimes in later years.

Lady Haldane said that while the harm caused by Devlin during the rape was significant, she had taken into account that he was a 12-year-old boy at the time of the crime.

Devlin, who watched the sentencing via a television link from prison, was told he would be placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

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