Scottish serial rapist and dad-of-ten jailed for years of violent abuse dies in prison

A serial Scottish rapist who inflicted violent sexual abuse against three women has died behind bars.

Lee Thomson died at HMP Glenochil on May 20, the Scottish Prison Service confirmed. The 52-year-old violent offender was jailed for life in December 2020, following a campaign of abuse against his victims between 2003 and 2018.

His vile crime include six rapes, two sexual assaults, four assaults and two stalking offences that took place in Fife. A trial at the High Court in Edinburgh heard how Thomson stalked two of his victims – monitoring them using covert devices, reports the Daily Record.

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He also made one of his victims undergo lie detector tests. Thomson, who was a dad-of-ten, continued to deny his crimes, which went undetected for years.

During sentencing, he was handed an Order for Lifelong Restriction and was placed on the sex offender’s register.

Speaking at the time, Detective Sergeant Gordon Patullo of Police Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Task Force said: “Lee Thomson’s offending took place over a number of years against three women which until now went largely unpunished. Thomson’s offending included sustained violence and sexual abuse of his victims.

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“He is a dangerous, manipulative individual who went to extraordinary lengths to monitor and control these women. With this sentence of an order of lifelong restriction, Thomson will face the consequences of his actions for many years.

“His conviction sends out a clear message that domestic abuse crimes will be robustly investigated by Police Scotland.”

He continued: “I would like to thank the victims in this case for the strength and dignity they have shown throughout this investigation and subsequent court case and I hope that today’s sentencing provides them with some closure which will allow them to move on with their lives.

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“We would take this opportunity to reach out to anyone who is experiencing or has experienced domestic abuse; it is never too late to report to the police or seek support and advice from one of our partner agencies such as Women’s Aid.”

Officers from Police Scotland said the death is not being treated as suspicious. A Fatal Accident Inquiry will take place in due course.

A spokesperson for the SPS said: “With each death in custody, Police Scotland are advised and the matter reported to the Procurator Fiscal. Fatal Accident Inquiries are held in due course.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We received a report of the sudden death of a 52-year-old man at HMP Glenochil around 8.05am on Monday, 20 May, 2024. The death is not being treated as suspicious. A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”