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Serial rapist guilty of terrorising Aberdeen women for 15 years

The case against Stephen Kidd was heard at the High Court in Edinburgh
The case against Stephen Kidd was heard at the High Court in Edinburgh

A serial rapist who abused nine women and shot a video of himself sexually assaulting a victim has been jailed for an “appalling catalogue of offences”.

Stephen Kidd, 36, was convicted by a jury on Friday of terrorising women in the Aberdeen area between June 2005 and August 2020.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Kidd subjected his victims, none of whom can be named for legal reasons, to horrifying sexual and physical assaults.

He told jurors how he and one of his victims had agreed to film themselves having sex on the landing of a house.

But during the filming, the woman could be heard saying: “Right, stop. No. Don’t do that.”

Kidd was recorded saying: “It’s okay” but the woman’s response was “no”.

Prosecutor Shanti Maguire asked him what that meant and he answered: “No.”

The prosecutor then asked: “So does that mean you should have stopped?” and he said “Yes.”

She asked Kidd if that was an occasion when he admitted that what had occurred was non-consensual and he answered: “Yes.”

Guilty verdict after two-week trial

Kidd accepted that on the evidence at his trial a picture had been painted of a violent and controlling individual and said he had been “at times”.

But he denied that there were times when consensual sex was taking place with women who had then said no and asked him to stop.

The prosecutor referred him to the video and asked: “Is that one you admit was non-consensual?” He replied: “Yes.”

On Friday, following a two-week long trial, the jurors returned guilty verdicts to charges including rape, assault, theft and indecent assault and robbery.

Following conviction, Ms Maguire revealed that Kidd, of Peterculter, had previous convictions for offences including assault.

This prompted judge Lord Weir to remand Kidd in custody and call for a report into his background.

Detective Inspector Gordon Patullo said: “Our thoughts are very much with Kidd’s victims and I hope that today’s verdict brings them some kind of closure and helps them to move forward. I commend them all for their bravery in coming forward.

“Kidd subjected women to sexual and physical assault over a 15-year period. He has shown no remorse for his crimes.

“Police Scotland is committed to supporting victims of sexual crimes and takes all reports seriously with the aim of bringing those responsible to justice.

“I would urge anyone who wishes to report a sexual crime, no matter how long ago, to contact us.”

‘Substantial prison sentence is inevitable’

Ordering him to be taken from the court to prison, Lord Weir told Kidd that he was facing a lengthy prison sentence for his crimes.

He added: “Stephen Kidd, you have been convicted of an appalling catalogue of offences. Whilst a substantial prison sentence is inevitable, I will order, in the first instance, a Criminal Justice Social Work Report.

“I will defer sentence until January 13 2023 when the case against you will next call at the High Court in Inverness at 9.30am.

“You will be remanded in custody meantime.”

The court heard how police became aware of Kidd’s activities and launched an investigation.

During his trial, Kidd had denied the charges and maintained he was innocent of any wrongdoing.

When giving evidence, Kidd told the court that he was convinced that the police had manipulated the women into coming forward.

He said: “The police has talked them into telling stories.”

Victim raped in student accommodation

When giving evidence, Kidd said he was also convinced that there are dozens of Scottish men who have been wrongly imprisoned for violence against women.

He said: “I am not the only one in prison. There are hundreds of young Scottish boys in prison just for the same thing. It is a joke.”

He maintained that all the sexual activity he had with the woman in the video was consensual.

He told the court that he had found out one of the woman who gave evidence against him was “a compulsive liar”.

One woman who was assaulted and raped at her student accommodation in Aberdeen told how she was made to take her clothes off.

She was left sitting naked on a bed while Kidd recorded the incident on his mobile phone and threatened to send recordings to her mum.

Kidd denied that it had occurred and said: “I can’t explain why she said it.”

He said the woman and a friend used to sell fake stories to magazines.

He said that any images or videos of women he took on his phone were with consent.

Jurors refuse to believe accused

However, jurors refused to believe his story and convicted him after they concluded their deliberations which began on Thursday afternoon.

Following conviction, defence advocate Gary Allan KC told Lord Weir that he’d reserve his mitigation until the sentencing hearing.

He added: “My lord, I will reserve all questions of mitigation or discussion of the circumstances until the hearing in January.”

Lord Weir also placed Kidd on the Sex Offender’s Register.

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