Adam Wood, A SELKIRK paedophile rapist has been found guilty of a charge of assault and rape following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Thirty-four-year-old Adam Wood was also convicted of two counts of indecent behaviour towards a girl aged between 12 and 16.
Two other charges of indecent behaviour towards a girl aged between 12 and 16 were found not proven by the jury.
Sentence was deferred until November 22 for background reports and Adam Wood’s bail was continued.
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Adam Wood, 34, began abusing victims in the Borders when he was still a teenager before committing a rape attack at a house in Selkirk.
A judge told Wood at the High Court in Edinburgh: “A jury convicted you of three sexual offences against young girls. I must respect that verdict.”
John Morris KC told him: “Only a substantial custodial sentence is appropriate.”
The judge said that he took into account that Adam Wood was “a fairly young man” at the time of the offending, that he was treating him as a first offender and he was assessed as posing a low risk.
Adam Wood, of Chapel Street, Selkirk, had denied a series of charges at an earlier trial but was found guilty of committing three crimes.
The first happened at an address in Hawick on one occasion in 2008 when he pulled down the lower clothing of a 14-year-old girl and molested her.
The second girl was subjected to indecent conduct by Adam Wood at addresses in Hawick and Selkirk before he assaulted and raped her on an occasion in July 2013.
Defence counsel Jonathan Crowe said Adam Wood was 18 at the time of first offence and 23 when he last occurred.
He said Adam Wood has four daughters and a very supportive family.
He told the court “He has a very close bond with his children.”
Mr Crowe said Adam Wood has “a strong work ethic” and was employed as a gardener before later becoming a self-employed handyman in the local community. [Editor’s Note – some consolation for his victims…]
But he said he had health problems and his partner now acted as his carer and he was prescribed anti-depressants.
Adam Wood was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and the judge made non harassment orders banning him from contacting or attempting to contact the victims for indefinite periods.
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