Latest news with #CalumMacGregor
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Army Captain rapist has "unduly lenient" prison term increased by two years
An Army captain who raped a woman he met through a dating app has had an extra two years added on to his sentence. An army officer who raped a woman he met on a popular dating app has had an extra two years added on to his prison sentence. Scotland's most senior prosecutor Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC had appealed the the four and-a-half years given to Calum MacGregor, 30, for attacking a woman in her own home claiming that the original sentence was too lenient. Now three court appeal judges Lord Beckett, Lord Doherty and Lord Armstrong increased the prison term to six years and six months. MacGregor, a member of the Royal Engineers, pounced on his 28 year old victim in December 2021 after meeting her on a dating app. He was convicted in January this year following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh and sentenced the following month. The army officer claimed during his three day trial that any sexual contact had been consensual. An impact statement provided by the victim said she continues to suffer flashbacks and to see a psychologist following the rape on December 14, 2021. She has also been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, become afraid of the dark, and was unable to work for six months. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Laura Buchan, Deputy Crown Agent, said yesterday: 'Prosecutors have a responsibility to consider appeals based upon undue leniency in sentencing. Such appeals are rare. 'Today's decision to increase Calum MacGregor's sentence for rape provides public reassurance that the impact of sexual offences on victims will be acknowledged by those in the criminal justice system." MacGregor had contacted his victim on Hinge before meeting her in Edinburgh for dinner and then going to her address for a soft drink before the attack took place. He was found guilty of pushing the woman on to a bed, kissing her body, seizing her wrists, restraining her, repeatedly grabbing her breasts, removing her clothing and underwear, carrying out sex acts on her and raping her. The court heard that Calum McGregor was a first offender and had studied philosophy at St Andrews University where he was in the Officer Training Corps before joining the Army. He has served his country at home and abroad and had an exemplary record but would be thrown out as a result of his conviction. Before sentencing the trial judge Alison Stirling was provided with supporting references including one from a superior officer. His name was also been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely. The appeal against MacGregor's sentence was heard in Edinburgh earlier this month. The Lord Advocate then claimed that the trial judge had failed to recognise the true gravity of the offence and given undue weight to personal mitigation given on MacGregor's behalf. Yesterday in a written judgement Lord Beckett said:"In all the circumstances a sentence of imprisonment for four years and six months was unduly lenient. We impose a sentence of imprisonment for six years and six months."
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Scotsman
Army officer who violently raped a woman in her Edinburgh home has his prison sentence increased
An army officer who violently raped a woman in her home has had his prison sentence increased following a successful appeal by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Sign up to the daily Crime UK newsletter. All the latest crime news and trials from across the UK. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Calum MacGregor was jailed for four years and six months in February 2025 after previously being found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) asked the Appeal Court to consider imposing a longer custodial term due to the serious nature of the offence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The original sentence has now been quashed after the appeal was upheld by a panel of three judges. MacGregor will now serve six years and six months in custody. While sentence is rightfully the domain of the independent judiciary, the balance of justice is served by the Crown being allowed to appeal in limited circumstances. The Appeal Court has set a high test to be satisfied that this can happen. Calum MacGregor was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh. The sentence must be unduly lenient, meaning it falls outside the range of sentences which the judge could reasonably have considered appropriate having taken account of all relevant factors. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Laura Buchan, Deputy Crown Agent, said: 'Prosecutors have a responsibility to consider appeals based upon undue leniency in sentencing. Such appeals are rare. 'Today's decision to increase Calum MacGregor's sentence for rape provides public reassurance that the impact of sexual offences on victims will be acknowledged by those in the criminal justice system." MacGregor, 30, met the victim on a dating app before going on to sexually assault and rape her in Edinburgh in December 2021. He was found guilty by a jury following three days of evidence. His name has been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Soldier who raped woman he met on dating app has sentence increased
An army officer who raped a woman he met on a dating app has had his prison sentence increased following a Crown appeal. Calum MacGregor, 30, sexually assaulted and raped his victim in her home in December 2021. He was originally jailed for four-and-a-half years after being found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this year. However, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) appealed against the sentence on the basis it was 'unduly lenient' given the serious nature of the offence. COPFS asked the Appeal Court to consider imposing a longer custodial term. On Friday, it was announced that the appeal has been upheld by a panel of three judges at the Appeal Court and that MacGregor's original sentence has been quashed. The soldier will now serve six years and six months in custody. Laura Buchan, deputy crown agent, said: 'Prosecutors have a responsibility to consider appeals based upon undue leniency in sentencing. Such appeals are rare. 'Today's decision to increase Calum MacGregor's sentence for rape provides public reassurance that the impact of sexual offences on victims will be acknowledged by those in the criminal justice system.' COPFS explained that for an appeal to be upheld a sentence must be unduly lenient, meaning it falls outside the range of sentences a judge could 'reasonably' have considered appropriate, having taken all relevant factors into account. It added that while sentencing is 'rightfully' the domain of judges, the Crown is allowed to appeal in limited circumstances to ensure the 'balance of justice' is served. In their ruling, published on Friday, the Appeal Court judges said they were 'not convinced that the sentencing judge applied her mind to all relevant factors'. The ruling said: 'In all the circumstances, even allowing for mitigating circumstances, a sentence of imprisonment for four years and six months was unduly lenient. The judges added that they would 'impose a sentence of imprisonment for six years and six months. As before, sentence is backdated to January 30 2025'.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Soldier who raped woman he met on dating app has sentence increased
An army officer who raped a woman he met on a dating app has had his prison sentence increased following a Crown appeal. Calum MacGregor, 30, sexually assaulted and raped his victim in her home in December 2021. He was originally jailed for four-and-a-half years after being found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this year. However, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) appealed against the sentence on the basis it was 'unduly lenient' given the serious nature of the offence. COPFS asked the Appeal Court to consider imposing a longer custodial term. On Friday, it was announced that the appeal has been upheld by a panel of three judges at the Appeal Court and that MacGregor's original sentence has been quashed. The soldier will now serve six years and six months in custody. Laura Buchan, deputy crown agent, said: 'Prosecutors have a responsibility to consider appeals based upon undue leniency in sentencing. Such appeals are rare. 'Today's decision to increase Calum MacGregor's sentence for rape provides public reassurance that the impact of sexual offences on victims will be acknowledged by those in the criminal justice system.' COPFS explained that for an appeal to be upheld a sentence must be unduly lenient, meaning it falls outside the range of sentences a judge could 'reasonably' have considered appropriate, having taken all relevant factors into account. It added that while sentencing is 'rightfully' the domain of judges, the Crown is allowed to appeal in limited circumstances to ensure the 'balance of justice' is served. In their ruling, published on Friday, the Appeal Court judges said they were 'not convinced that the sentencing judge applied her mind to all relevant factors'. The ruling said: 'In all the circumstances, even allowing for mitigating circumstances, a sentence of imprisonment for four years and six months was unduly lenient. The judges added that they would 'impose a sentence of imprisonment for six years and six months. As before, sentence is backdated to January 30 2025'.
