Sex attacker jailed for eight years for catalogue of abuse in Borders, Midlothian and Fife

A man has been jailed for a catalogue of violence and sex attacks against five women in the Borders, Midlothian and Fife over a 10-year period.
Sex attacker Oliver Dalgleish.Sex attacker Oliver Dalgleish.
Sex attacker Oliver Dalgleish.

Oliver Dalgleish, 28, was sentenced to eight years in jail today, December 7, at the High Court in Edinburgh by judge Lady Maggie Scott.

She also ordered that he be kept under supervision for three years after his release from prison and that his name be put on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His crimes were committed between December 2006 and October 2016 in Jedburgh, Edinburgh, Gorebridge, Musselburgh, Crombie, Dumfermline and Rosyth.

Officers from Police Scotland’s domestic abuse task force began to investigate allegations of abuse against Dalgleish, of Rosyth, in November 2016 and he was subsequently charged in June this year.

Dalgleish denied abusing the women but went on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in September and was found guilty of a catalogue of serious sexual and violent offences.

Sentencing was adjourned until today for reports.

The court heard that Dalgleish raped two of the women in Fife and the Borders between 2006 and 2016, assaulted two other women in Fife and Midlothian between 2008 and 2010 and put a fifth woman in a state of fear and alarm by calling her abusive names in 2013.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Defence advocate Susan Duff said: “He accepted he had been physically violent towards his partners, but he does not accept that he raped them.”

She added that it ought to be taken into account that Dalgleish was only 16 at the time of the first offences.

Detective Sergeant Colin Moffat, of the domestic abuse task force, said: “We welcome the sentencing today of Oliver Dalgleish and hope that the women can take some comfort from this and begin to move on with their lives.

“Dalgleish is a dangerous individual who is a risk to the public.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I would like to thank the victims for their bravery, courage and support throughout our inquiries.

“Dalgleish failed to admit his actions and they had to endure a trial process, which has ensured justice has now been served.

“We will not tolerate domestic abuse, and I would encourage anyone to report such crimes so these can be thoroughly investigated.

“We will continue to work alongside partner agencies to protect the safety of victims involved, and alongside the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to bring perpetrators brought before the courts.”