Man jailed for child rape and violent attacks
Alastair Nicolson was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh
- Published
A man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for violent and sexual offences against three women and a child.
Alastair Nicolson, 55, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
He was found guilty of a number of offences, including raping a child, following a trial at the High Court in Inverness in May.
The crimes took place between January 1991 and April 2001 in the Highland and Argyll and Bute areas.
The court also granted indefinite non-harassment orders preventing Nicolson from contacting or attempting to contact three victims.
Nicolson subjected one woman to repeated beatings.
He pulled her hair, punched her in the head, called her derogatory names and threatened her with a knife, hammer, and scissors.
The court heard how he struck her on the body with a fire poker and a coal bucket before choking her.
The 55-year-old was also convicted of raping a woman on various occasions.
Nicolson was found to have used lewd, indecent, and libidinous practices and behaviour towards a young girl. He then raped the child, who was under the age of 16.
'Terrifying and distressing'
He violently assaulted a third female including seizing her by the neck and threatening to hit her.
The fourth victim was repeatedly punched and kicked.
Nicolson stubbed a cigarette out on her body, headbutted her and slapped her on the face.
In a separate attack he broke the woman’s tooth, knocked her to the ground, stamped on her head and threatened to kill her.
Sgt Jennifer Ramsay said: “Nicolson carried out these horrific crimes over a number of years, with no thought to the lasting impact on his victims.
“It's hard to comprehend just how terrifying and distressing this ordeal has been for them.
"I hope this sentence brings them some comfort and sends a clear message that all sexual crimes will be thoroughly investigated, regardless of the passage of time.
“I would reassure anyone who wishes to report a sexual or violent crime that we will always investigate, and you will be listened to and supported throughout."