Edinburgh man handed extended jail sentence and placed on sex offenders register for life after abuse of girls
An Edinburgh man who sexually assaulted two young schoolgirls has been handed an extended jail sentence of five years and six months and placed on the sex offenders register for life.
James Givan preyed on one child by removing her clothing, touching her genitals and rubbing her breasts during shocking sex attacks at an address in Tranent, East Lothian.
Givan, of Leith, Edinburgh, also forced the 13-year-old victim to touch his genitals and perform an sex act on him. He then forced a second child aged just 12-years-old to watch a video of him showering while he was naked, invited her into his bed and repeatedly attempted to kiss her.
Givan showed the shower video to a third child and targeted a fourth victim by commenting on the size of her breasts, sending her pictures of him topless and demanding she send him indecent images of herself.
All the offences were committed at addresses in Prestonpans and Tranent, East Lothian, between January 1, 2023 and January 21, 2024.
The 34-year-old denied all the allegations but was found guilty by a jury of five sexual offences involving four young girls following a five day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in February.
He returned to the dock for sentencing on Tuesday where defence advocate Jonathan Campbell told the court his client continues to maintain his innocence.
Mr Campbell said Givan had been of “previous good character” up until his offending started and has been deemed suitable for a community disposal.
In sentencing, Sheriff Alison Stirling said: “You were convicted after trial of five offences towards girls who were under the age 16 at the time, with one of them being under the age of 13.
“You were convicted of charges in respect of these four young girls. You have been assessed as above average for sexual reoffending.
“I have taken into account everything said by Mr Campbell on your behalf, but custody is the only appropriate disposal having regard to the risk of reoffending.”
Givan was jailed for three years and six months and he will be supervised on licence conditions set by Scottish Ministers for two years following his release from custody.
Sheriff Stirling also placed Givan on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period and issued non-harassment orders banning him from having any contact with his four victims for 10 years.
Givan was found guilty of intentionally causing a 13-year-old child to look at a sexual image and show her a video of him naked in the shower at an address in Prestonpans, East Lothian, on various occasions between March 31 and April 17, 2023.
He was also found guilty of directing verbal communications to a 13-year-old child by commenting on her breasts, requesting she send him images of her breasts and send her an image of him topless at an address in Tranent, East Lothian, on various occasions between August 31, 2023 and January 21, 2024.
Givan was further found guilty by the jury of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old child by touching her vagina and placing her hand on his penis at the Tranent home on various occasions between July 9, 2023 and January 21, 2024.
He was also found guilty of inviting a 12-year-old girl into his bed, attempt to show her a video of him naked in the shower and sexually assaulting the girl by repeatedly attempting to kiss her at the Tranent address, all between January 1 and December 28, 2023.