A serial rapist who abused nine women and shot a video of himself sexually assaulting a victim has been jailed for 12 years.
Stephen Kidd, 36, was convicted by a jury 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 carried out in 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.”
Claimed victims were ‘telling stories’
On Tuesday, Kidd observed proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh via video link from prison.
He was told by judge Lord Weir that he needed to be given a lengthy custodial term for his crimes.
Passing sentence, Lord Weir also ordered Kidd to be supervised by the authorities for three years following his release.
He said: “The jury must have been satisfied that you were responsible for the offences which show of your sinister and controlling conduct.
“There’s no alternative in this case to the imposition of a lengthy custodial sentence.
“I’m also satisfied that in light of your crimes that there has to be a period of supervision – that is necessary to secure the public from serious harm when you are released from custody.”
During proceedings last December, Kidd accepted that based on the evidence at his trial a picture had been painted of him being a violent and controlling individual.
He agreed that he had been “at times”.
Video evidence of sexual assault
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.”
The court heard how police became aware of Kidd’s activities and launched an investigation which culminated with them gathering enough evidence against him.
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.”
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.”
Rapist maintains innocence
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.
The jurors returned guilty verdicts to charges including rape, assault, theft and indecent assault and robbery.
On Tuesday, defence advocate Gary Allan KC told Lord Weir that his client still maintained he was innocent of any wrongdoing but accepted he would be going to prison for his crimes.
The court heard that Kidd had a “difficult” upbringing.
He said: “I would invite the court to temper justice with a little bit of mercy.”
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