Serial rapist who sexually assaulted six women during a seven-year campaign is jailed

A depraved serial rapist has been in prison for ten years after inflicting “unimaginable trauma” on his victims.

James Kelly, 43, subjected six women to a barrage of insults and disgusting attacks over seven years.

He was found guilty of six counts of rape and a number of other crimes, including sexual assault, assault and threatening or insulting someone.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Kelly abused women in the city between 2014 and 2021.

Some of his degrading attacks occurred during car journeys between the capital Inverness and Fife.

The monster attacked a woman and seriously injured her by making her fall down a staircase, hitting her on the head and pushing her on her body.

He tried to drag her out of a vehicle, kicked her in the body and strangled her.

The perpetrator was also charged with causing the woman fear, alarm or distress by showing her a video depicting her in an intimate situation without her consent.

He repeatedly beat a second woman until she sustained injuries and put her life in danger by pulling her hair, jumping on her body, hitting her with a golf club and choking her.

The attacker also hit her in the body with a crowbar, grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out of a car.

During a camping trip, Kelly forced the same victim to watch pornographic videos and left her alone without any means of transportation during the dark.

He forced a third woman to listen to a recording of him abusing a former partner.

Kelly’s lawyer Iain McSporran told the court that Kelly continues to maintain his innocence.

The unemployed musician claimed sex was consensual and said he suffered from ADHD. He said he took amphetamine, which he once referred to as “my medicine.”

Deputy solicitor Alan Mackay told the court: “I submit that this is a man who sees himself as a victim and who, I submit, has blamed the victim in some of his statements.”

He added: “This is a man who sees himself as a victim of women, but the evidence shows exactly the opposite.”

But Judge Fiona Tait sentenced him to ten years in prison and ordered him to be on probation for a further four years after his release.

She imposed a 25-year restraining order on him and had him placed on the sex offenders’ register for an indefinite period.

Katrina Parkes, Scotland’s sex offender prosecutor, said: “James Kelly is a dangerous individual whose violent and predatory behaviour has caused unimaginable trauma.

“The courage of his victims to come forward and speak to the authorities deserves great praise.”

Detective Inspector Eirlys Fraser added: “James Kelly subjected his victims to shocking levels of violence and sexual abuse.

“He is an extremely dangerous individual who has shown no remorse for his behaviour but is now paying the price for his despicable actions.

“I want to thank the women for their strength in speaking out during this investigation and helping us build a compelling case against him.

“I hope this result gives them a sense of closure and allows them to put this terrible ordeal behind them.

“If anyone is experiencing or has experienced any form of violence or sexual abuse, they are not alone and we encourage them to report it to us.

“You will be heard and supported by the officers and our partner authorities throughout the entire process. Together we will bring the perpetrator to justice.”