A remorseless rapist, who preyed on girls as young as six years old and went missing during his trial, has been jailed for nine years.
Edward Findlay, 57, put four girls through a 25-year campaign of horrific abuse at locations including Elgin and Fochabers.
Findlay went on trial at the High Court in Inverness earlier this year, accused of raping three of his four victims and one of them was only six years old.
At the time, he was on bail but then failed to turn up on three consecutive days, after victims told jurors of their harrowing ordeals.
A warrant was issued for his arrest and Findlay, of Elgin, was eventually found guilty in his absence.
He was convicted of raping three of the girls as well as lewd and libidinous behaviour against the other.
Crimes in Elgin and Fochabers
The crimes occurred between 1995 and 2019 in Alloa, Clackmannanshire as well as Elgin and Fochabers in Moray.
Findlay was eventually arrested in June this year and today appeared via video link from prison for sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow.
Lady Drummond told him: “From (the pre-sentencing report), it appears that you have taken no responsibility for your crimes or the impact your behaviour has had.”
The judge sentenced him to a total of eight years for these offences.
But she added a further 12 months after convicting him of contempt of court for going missing during the trial.
‘Wilful defiance’
Lady Drummond explained: “I have no hesitation in finding that you acted in wilful defiance of the court’s authority.
“It had the potential to jeopardise your trial after witnesses had given evidence.”
Findlay will also be monitored for four years after his release and he will remain on the sex offenders register.
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