In 2021, Steven Telford, a 30-year-old man from Balerno, was jailed after being found guilty of a series of non-recent sexual offences against two young girls, including rape and child abuse.
Steven Telford, of Deanpark Avenue, Balerno, was convicted by a jury at the High Court in Edinburgh of five sexual offences, including three counts of indecent behaviour and two counts of rape. The court heard that Telford first struck in 2003 when he was 12 years old, restraining and molesting a 10-year-old child at a play park in Balerno before threatening her life if she reported the assault. Between August 2007 and April 2009, Telford targeted a second girl between the ages of 12 and 14, subjecting her to repeated sexual abuse, indecent exposure, forced sexual acts, and rape.
Telford denied all charges during his trial, but the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts across all counts. Relatives of the victims described the severe psychological impact, flashbacks, and nightmares endured by the survivors over the years, expressing relief that Telford was finally brought to justice. Following the verdicts, Telford was remanded in custody ahead of formal sentencing.
Following his convictions for rape and child sexual assault, Telford was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
He also remains subject to statutory public protection notification requirements and long-term risk management by law enforcement upon any eventual release from custody.
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