Rape victim panics over fears Valentine’s attacker may be released

A woman lives in fear after being told that the rapist who sexually assaulted her could be released from prison early.

Kerry Malcolm, 35, fell victim to George Newby just six months after he raped another woman.

He was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2022 for attacking Kerry and raping his other victim, but he could be released halfway through his sentence at a parole hearing on July 25.

Kerry, who waived her right to anonymity, broke down in tears as she told the Record: “He is a dangerous man. I have no doubt he will reoffend and I fear for other women.

“Since I received the letter about his parole hearing, I have not left my house. I just sit in my bedroom in my pajamas because that is the only place I feel safe.

“I’m so scared it’s making me physically ill and I was in the hospital on Monday because of it. It’s like waiting on a knife edge. I want to know how it ends but I’m so scared of whether he’ll be released.

“If he is released, I don’t know where he is. I will be afraid to see him on the streets and I don’t know when he will appear next. The thought that he could soon have his freedom just disgusts me.”

Kerry pleaded with the parole board not to release Newby from prison out of fear for her own safety and that of other women.

Newby attempted to rape Kerry while she lay unconscious at a house party in Edinburgh.

After the attack, she said the 33-year-old gave her a bouquet of flowers “because it was Valentine’s Day.”

Newby, who has repeatedly denied his guilt, raped his first victim in August 2020 at a property in the Loganlea Road area of ​​Edinburgh.

Newby later attempted to rape Kerry, who initially viewed the sex offender as a friend.

She had previously told the Daily Record that during the February 2021 gathering she “got really dizzy and lay down on a bed.” However, when she woke up, Newby was on top of her, holding her hands above her head.

Newby’s attempt to appeal the conviction was rejected by a judge after finding that he posed a “high risk of re-offending sexually.”

Kerry added: “He has taken everything from me as it has affected every part of my life. My relationship with my former partner has fallen apart, I am too scared to ever be in a romantic relationship again and I can’t go anywhere because I don’t feel safe.

“I am isolated and suffer from depression because of it. I have a recurring nightmare several times a week where he lies on top of me and when I wake up I am sweating and crying. It is as if I am reliving it all again.

“I’ve always been very independent and initially thought I was strong enough to get through this, but now I’m finally accepting help from Rape Crisis and have started therapy. It’s stopped me from living a normal life, I can’t even go shopping, so why give him his freedom back?”

The Parole Board for Scotland declined to comment.

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