A care worker has been jailed for six years and four months for subjecting a profoundly disabled man to repeated rape ordeals at a residential home.
Steven Watson,64, preyed on the victim, who requires 24 hour round-the-clock care, while employed as a relief support worker with a disability charity.
The former foreign aid worker, who was previously employed overseas with charities such as Oxfam and Save the Children, was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register indefinitely.
Watson, of Skye Road, Dunfermline, carried out sexual assaults on his victim on three occasions at the residential home in Fife.
Advocate Depute Jane Farquharson QC told the Edinburgh High Court: “He had been in this role as a support worker for 15 to 20 years.
“It is employment that saw the accused caring for some of the most vulnerable members of society, many of whom, including the complainer, have limited communication and mobility skills.”
“The role of a support worker is to attempt to make a service user’s life as normal as possible.”
She said the victim, in his 40s, has a number of physical and mental conditions.
Watson was caught raping the man on January 6 and, after initially saying it had been a consensual act, acknowledged the victim had no caoacity to concent.
Watson also admitted carrying out two further sex acts on the man before Christmas.
The first offender admitted assaulting and raping the man on three occasions between December 1 and January 6 at a residential unit.
Defence solicitor advocate Gordon Martin said Watson regretted his actions but still cannot explain them.
He asked the judge to take account of Watson’s previous good character and pro-social life. He said Watson still has a house in the Philippines where he had continued with voluntary work to improve the living standards of local people and help with building affordable housing.
Detective Constable Lauren Miller of Fife’s Divisional Rape Investigation Unit said: “Steven Watson used his position to prey on an extremely vulnerable man in what was a despicable breach of trust.
“I want to thank staff for their vigilance in reporting concerns to management and police, and for their co-operation with our investigation.
“Police Scotland is committed to safeguarding people from sexual violence and any reports will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.”
Anyone with information or concerns about sexual offences can call Police Scotland on 101, or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
