Sean Hogg: Rapist who attacked 13-year-old girl in Dalkeith Country Park walks free from court

A sobbing rapist who attacked a 13-year-old girl in a Midlothian park walked free from court on Monday. Sean Hogg pounced on the girl at Dalkeith Country Park on various occasions between March and June 2018.

Court papers state Hogg, now 21, threatened his victim and pulled down her lower clothing. Hogg, of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, then seized her by the wrists and caused the girl to carry out a sex act on him. He then pushed his victim's head down and raped her.

Hogg was found guilty by a jury and appeared in the dock in tears at the High Court in Glasgow on April 3. Judge Lord Lake said: "Rape is one of the most serious crimes and that is why it is tried at the High Court. Looking at the circumstances – her age and vulnerabilities are aggravating factors. For the level of seriousness, I have to consider your liability and have regard to your age as a factor.

Dalkeith Country Park.

"This offence, if committed by an adult over 25 you attract a sentence of four or five years. I don't consider that appropriate and don't intend to send you to prison. You are a first offender with no previous history of prison – you are 21 and were 17 at the time. Prison does not lead me to believe this will contribute to your rehabilitation."

Hogg was ordered to do 270 hours of unpaid work. He was also put under supervision and the sex offenders register for three years. Donald Findlay KC, defending, told the sentencing that an appeal is planned.

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