In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that 61-year-old Stanley Forbes died while serving an 18-year sentence for the rape of three young girls. Forbes—formerly of Clepington Street, Dundee—was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2002. It was reported that the investigation into his death was launched by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) after he passed away in hospital while being held as a prisoner at HMP Perth.
The investigation into his original crimes established that Forbes used a predatory “grooming” technique between 2000 and 2001, offering his victims friendship and cash for drugs. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Forbes targeted a 13-year-old child prostitute, along with two other girls aged 14 and 16, at addresses on Clepington Road and Foggylea Gardens. The prosecution reported that Forbes attempted to discredit his victims during the trial, claiming the 14-year-old had a “teenage crush” and had fabricated the allegations out of spite after being rejected.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that despite Forbes’ claims that the victims were lying, a jury found him guilty of four counts of rape. The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the victims, though strangers to one another, provided consistent evidence of his predatory behaviour. The investigation established that Forbes was 44 at the time of his conviction and was a high-risk offender who had systematically exploited vulnerable children in the Dundee area.
Following his death in 2018, a spokesman for the SPS confirmed that Police Scotland had been advised and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. For his actions in Dundee and Tayside, a mandatory Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) was scheduled to be held at Perth Sheriff Court to examine the circumstances of his death. The Crown Office reported that the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU) would direct the inquiry, which is standard procedure for any death occurring in Scottish custody.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Tayside and Edinburgh, the status of Stanley Forbes as of April 5, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: DECEASED (Died in custody, 2018; serving 18-year term).
- Sex Offenders Register: Records closed upon death.
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Rape; 4 counts total).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh; FAI conducted at Perth Sheriff Court.
- Criminal Record: Rape of a 13-year-old child; Rape of a 14-year-old; Rape of a 16-year-old; Use of drugs/cash to facilitate abuse.
- Origin: Clepington Street, Dundee, Tayside.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Prior to his death, Forbes was managed as a maximum-risk registered sex offender within the Scottish prison estate. Due to the nature of his conduct—specifically the targeting of extremely vulnerable children and the use of narcotics as a tool for exploitation—his management was a top priority for the Tayside Police Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his refusal to accept guilt and his attempts to blame his victims during the 2002 trial indicated a high level of predatory narcissism.
As a convicted rapist, Forbes’ details were permanently logged on the national police database until his death was reported. Authorities state that while the FAI was conducted at Perth Sheriff Court, there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his passing. The closure of his file in 2018 marked the end of a nearly two-decade period of incarceration for offences that the High Court described as a “vile” betrayal of young lives in Dundee.
QUESTION – Given that the offender died in prison before completing his full 18-year sentence, do you believe that “Post-Mortem Judicial Summaries” should be released to the victims to provide a final sense of closure and an official acknowledgement of the harm caused?
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