In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Serenity Francis Johnston, 34, was jailed for nine years for a series of rapes and sexual assaults against multiple children. On appearing at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2026, the defendant—a biological male formerly known as David Johnston who now identifies as a woman—was sentenced for a “vile” and “shameful” campaign of abuse. It was reported that the predatory offences took place in Livingston, West Lothian, between November 2006 and April 2012, targeting three girls aged between eight and 15.
The investigation established the “depraved” and systematic nature of the abuse, which robbed the victims of their innocence. Police Scotland reported that Johnston’s first victim was only nine years old when the assaults began. The prosecution reported that Johnston committed further rapes at a house in Livingston between 2011 and 2012, before sexually assaulting a third girl, aged 15, later that year. Despite the overwhelming evidence, Johnston denied all charges, forcing the survivors to endure a trial at the High Court in Livingston.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Johnston’s actions caused long-lasting psychological damage and corrupted the early childhood years of the survivors. The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the jury took just hours to convict Johnston on all counts following the trial. The investigation established that the defendant showed a total “lack of remorse” for the girls preyed upon, a factor that influenced the significant custodial term handed down by the judiciary.
Lord Mulholland noted that Johnston would pay a “very heavy price” for the crimes, emphasizing that the rape of children is a matter of the utmost gravity. For the actions in West Lothian, Johnston was sentenced to 108 months in prison. The judge noted that the “unfeeling” and “disgusting” nature of the crimes necessitated a lengthy sentence to reflect the severity of the betrayal of trust and the destruction of the victims’ happiness.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in Scotland, the status of Serenity Francis Johnston is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: Nine years in prison (2026).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh following a Police Scotland investigation.
- Criminal Record: Rape of a child under 13 (multiple counts); Sexual assault; Indecent assault.
- Origin: Livingston, West Lothian.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Johnston is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the police and the justice social work departments in West Lothian. Due to the nature of the conduct in Livingston, which involved the serial rape and exploitation of children as young as eight, the management of the offender is subject to the highest level of scrutiny within the Scottish prison estate and upon any eventual release. Authorities state that life-long inclusion on the Sex Offenders Register is a vital tool to ensure permanent residency checks and monitoring.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register for life, Johnston must comply with all notification requirements regarding identity and residence. Authorities state that the history of sexual violence and “warped” predatory habits in West Lothian necessitates permanent vigilance. Any future attempt to approach children, contact survivors, or engage in inappropriate behaviour in Livingston, Edinburgh, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for further incarceration.
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