Man who raped woman and sexually assaulted boys jailed

A man who subjected a woman and three young boys to a 10-year campaign of rape and sexual assault has been jailed under a lifelong restriction order.

Christopher Rodger physically and sexually attacked the woman at addresses in Dumfries and Galloway and assaulted an eight-year-old boy during the same period.

The 42-year-old also performed a sex attack on an 11-year-old and sexually assaulted another over a 12-month period.

Rodger, from Balerno in Edinburgh, denied rape and physical and sexual assault charges during a trial at the city's High Court, but was told he must serve at least seven-and-a-half years before he would be considered for release from jail.

Lady Hood told Rodger the "the physical and psychological wellbeing of the public" would be at risk if he was free.

A sentencing hearing was told Rodger presented a "high risk of sexual reoffending".

During the trial, the court heard that Rodger raped the woman on a number of occasions between September 2005 and November 2010 at addresses in Dumfries, Gatehouse of Fleet and Kirkcudbright.

Jurors also heard how he would "punch, kick and slap" her.

At about the same time, Rodger began sexually abusing the boy. The court heard how he downloaded pornography onto the boy's computer and forced him to watch the material.

He also raped the boy on various occasions between December 2010 and June 2011.

Rodger performed a sex act on a boy, who was aged 11 at the time, at some point between 1 April and 20 April 2007 at an address in Dumfries.

He sexually assaulted a third boy on a number of occasions in 2015.

Rodger was arrested and charged with the offences after police learned of his activities.

His lawyer said there was no evidence of Rodger offending after his final crimes and that he had been living a "law-abiding life" for more than 10 years.

However, Lady Hood concluded that only an order for lifelong restriction would be appropriate in the circumstances.

The orders are designed to serve as life sentences for serious sexual and violent offenders.

Once they have served their minimum period in jail, offenders remain in prison until the parole board decides they can be freed.

Only a fraction of those who have received these sentences have ever been released.

Rodger was also told he would be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for the rest of his life.