An oil worker has been jailed for 30 months after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl as she slept in her bed.
Darren Rutherford was convicted of assaulting the teen following a two-day trial at Aberdeen Sheriff Court earlier this year.
The jury took just over an hour to find Rutherford unanimously guilty of one charge of sexual assault, which included penetrative sexual assault, at an address in Aberdeen in 2022.
The 44-year-old had denied the sickening attack – which the court heard has changed how the teen “lives her life” – and still maintains his innocence.
DNA proof snared sex abuser
During the trial, jurors heard from the girl’s mother, who said in the days leading up to the assault, Rutherford had been acting “strange” since he had come back from working offshore.
She said that for around three of four days he had seemed “short-tempered and erratic”.
On June 27 2022, the 14-year-old’s mum was driving her in the car when she noticed something was wrong and questioned her daughter about it.
The girl initially refused to say what was bothering her but eventually revealed that Rutherford had entered her bedroom during the night and “placed his fingers between her legs”.
The woman said that upon divulging what had occurred, her daughter became “hysterical”.
Despite his protestations of innocence, DNA evidence taken from Rutherford’s hand linked him to the crime.
Outside court after the verdict a family member said it would take the teen “years to get over it”.
Threats and violence
Rutherford’s defence agent Clara Smeaton today urged the court not to imprison her client as he had received threats to his life should he get jailed.
She said: “He has been a victim of getting threats against him. He has had threatening phone calls from family members of the complainer.
“He has been told that if he is imprisoned his throat will be slashed in jail and a bounty has been put on his head.
“Windows at his property have been smashed and there has been vandalism on his personal vehicle.
“Details of his work vehicle have also been posted on social media.”
‘Very serious assault’
On sentencing, Sheriff Andrew Millar noted the threats but said it was a “very serious penetrative assault” and more so because it had happened in the girl’s own bedroom while she was asleep.
He went on to say Rutherford’s background report showed he still denied the offence, adding: “You express the view that believe you are innocent of charges brought against you.
“Having regard to the very serious nature of the offence and the circumstances – the threshold to custody has been passed. Only a significant sentence will be appropriate.
“I have noted threats to your safety, however, the Scottish Prison Service have the responsibility to protect those in their care.”
He handed Rutherford 30 months in jail and made him subject to the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.
