A teenager who “preyed” on his victims has been found guilty of raping and attempting to rape two children when he was 12 years old.
Declan Morrison, now 18, was found guilty by a majority of jurors at a High Court trial in Aberdeen on charges that he raped one victim at a play park in the Sheddocksley area of Aberdeen in 2015 when both boys were 12.
He was also found guilty by majority of attempting to rape an eight-year-old boy in the same year.
Morrison, who had denied the charges against him, will now be placed on the sex offenders register.
During evidence on Wednesday, one of Morrison’s accusers, now 18, said that he screamed and shouted for Morrison to stop as he raped him against a climbing frame on a night between Christmas and New Year 2015.
A second witness – who was eight at the time – said he felt compelled to report that Morrison had attempted to rape him on an old mattress as he “would just see it” whenever he tried to close his eyes.
‘Opportunistic’ rapist preyed on victims
Advocate depute Geoffrey Mitchell QC said Morrison had “preyed” on his young victims and told jurors both incidents shared similar characteristics.
He described both crimes as “opportunistic” with Morrison pouncing on one of his victims in a play area at Sheddocksley playing fields and another at a den where children played.
Morrison also then warned his rape victim “don’t tell anyone”.
Mr Mitchell also pointed out that there were similarities in the way Morrison spoke to his victims before the attacks, where he asked the eight-year-old if he wanted to know “how to do sex”.
He also asked his 12-year-old victim: “Do you want to do things that people think is gay but isn’t gay?”
“I say that these similarities are such that they show a course of conduct systematically pursued by the accused,” Mr Mitchell said.
Teen admitted being ‘bully’ but denied rape
As Morrison gave evidence on Thursday, he admitted he had been a “bully” but denied both charges.
He described the crimes levelled against him as “disgusting” and claimed he would “remember something that serious”.
Asked by defence advocate Gail Gianni if he had raped a boy when he was 12, Morrison answered: “No, definitely not.”
However, after hearing all the evidence, a jury of eight women and seven men delivered a verdict of guilty by majority to both charges.
Following the verdict, Lord Richardson, who was presiding over the case, told Morrison: “You have heard the verdict of the jury on both charges that you face, but I note that you have never been subject to imprisonment.”
He deferred sentencing on Morrison until December in order for reports to be carried out by the social work department.
Lord Richardson also placed Morrison, whose address was given on court papers as Rorie Court, Aberdeen, on the sex offenders register.
It is understood Morrison no longer lives at that address.
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