A rapist from Fife has been jailed for subjecting five women to terrifying attacks including abducting and raping a child in a van at knifepoint.
Lord Joseph Lowther, 42, was given a 12-year term by judge Lord Sandison for the offences which took place over 20 years.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard one his victims say she was just 12 when Lowther preyed on her between August 18 and September 11 2000.
The woman told the court Lowther pushed her into his van in Cowdenbeath, seized her by the legs and covered her mouth with his hand.
Lowther repeatedly threatened to kill her, before pinning her down and raping her.
He also struck a knife on the floor beside her head as he raped her.
There’s nothing to be gained from continuing to lecture you on your moral depravity.”
— Lord Sandison.
Describing the sickening attack, the woman wept as she told prosecution lawyer John Keenan: “I lay there scared. I was in a lot of pain at the time.
“He said to me ‘get your s**t together and get out.
“He said if I told anyone he would kill me.”
Lowther, of Burntisland, was convicted on charges of rape and sexual assault following a trial earlier this year.
On Friday, judge Lord Sandison heard the predator continues to maintain his innocence.
The judge said: “You continue to show no insight into the enormity of your actions.
“There’s nothing to be gained from continuing to lecture you on your moral depravity.”
Multiple victims
During proceedings, the woman raped by Lowther in his van told jurors of an incident sometime between May 1 2006 and April 2008 in which she was sexually assaulted for a second time in Cowdenbeath.
Police eventually learned about Lowther’s activities and launched an investigation.
The discovered Lowther had raped another woman at a caravan site in Moray between May 2009 and December 2010 and repeatedly raped her at other locations in Scotland between January 2013 and December 31 2016.
Between June 1 2016 and September 3 2016, Lowther raped another woman at a location close to Cowdenbeath while she was sleeping and intoxicated and unable to consent.
Lowther raped another woman on November 7 2017 at a house in Cowdenbeath.
He also repeatedly raped a little girl on various occasions between January 1 2018 and January 18 2021 at locations in Fife.
The child was aged just nine-years-old when the abuse began.
Covid in prison
Defence advocate Dale Hughes told the court his client was a member of the travelling community who had been taken out of school aged nine to help out with his family’s business.
The defence advocate said Lowther had experienced health problems.
“He has had some mental health difficulties.
“He has had anxiety disorder and has required some medication for that.
“He has also been on remand since January 2021 and whilst on remand he contracted the Delta variant of Covid 19 which required hospitalisation which was not a pleasant experience.”
Lord Sandison also ordered Lowther to be supervised by the authorities for three years following his release from custody.
He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Police welcome ‘justice’
National prosecutor for High Court Sexual Offences, Fraser Gibson, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said: “Lord Joseph Lowther was a danger to women and girls for many years.
“His victims were often too scared of him to report their horrifying experiences and felt they had to keep it secret.
“But justice has caught up with this man.
“The women he brutalised deserve our thanks and commendation for their courage in speaking out.
“They allowed the expert prosecutors at COPFS to ensure Lowther faced the consequences of his heinous behaviour.
“I would encourage all victims of similar offending – no matter how long ago it may have occurred – to come forward, report it and seek help.”
DC Kelly Clements of Police Scotland’s Child Abuse Investigation Unit, previously said:
“The survivors of Lowther’s horrific sexual abuse showed great courage in coming forward to police.
“Ultimately, it was their vital information that has led to his conviction.
“He will now face justice for the offences he has committed.”
