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A serial rapist who lured his victims to his home where he would make them wear dog masks and collars has been jailed for 11 years.

Scott Hanlon, also known as Scott Lannister, degraded and abused his two young victims after they accepted offers to live at his flat in Stirling.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said the 35-year-old manipulated and exploited vulnerable people he met through online chat sites.

Hanlon repeatedly subjected his victims to serious physical and sexual assaults, including rape.

He compelled them to wear dog masks and collars, took their money and kept them locked up.

Prosecutors demonstrated both victims suffered abusive, controlling behaviour, leaving them terrified of Hanlon.

One of his teenage victims suffered a debilitating medical condition and was unable to defend themselves from the attacks.

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Fraser Gibson, national procurator fiscal for high court sexual offences, said: “Scott Hanlon manipulated vulnerable people – much younger than himself – for his own depraved ends.

“The victims endured appalling ordeals while being controlled and manipulated. It has taken great bravery on their part to speak out against him and report the crimes.

“We hope today’s sentence offers them some degree of comfort as they attempt to move on in their lives.”

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Police Scotland said the offences took place between 2018 and 2020.

Hanlon was found guilty of three sexual offence charges and two counts under domestic abuse legislation in February. He was sentenced on Wednesday.

As well as the 11-year jail term, Hanlon will also be supervised for nine years on his release from prison.

He has been placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and has been handed a lifetime non-harassment order to prevent him from approaching or contacting his victims.

Detective Inspector Forbes Wilson, of the Forth Valley Public Protection Unit, said: “I welcome the sentencing of Scott [Hanlon] who will now face the consequences for these degrading, violent attacks.

“Sexual crimes, of any nature, will not be tolerated.

“I would urge anyone who wishes to report an offence of this nature to come forward, regardless of the passage of time. We will investigate it thoroughly and you will be fully supported by officers and our partner agencies.”

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Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after death of two children in Stafford

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Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after death of two children in Stafford

A 43-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of two children in Stafford.

Police were called to a home on Corporation Street at around 7.30am on Sunday by West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Two children were pronounced dead at the scene, Staffordshire Police said.

Detective Inspector Kirsty Oldfield said: “We are working hard to understand more about what happened leading up to these two children tragically losing their lives.

“We ask that people do not speculate at this stage as it is distressing for family and friends and could hinder our inquiries.

“We understand that this incident may cause concern in the local community. We don’t believe there is wider threat to the public at this time.”

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The 43-year-old woman, who is from the Stafford area, remains in custody.

The force has not confirmed the ages of the two children. Their next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers, police said.

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Man charged with stalking after allegedly targeting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his family

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Man charged with stalking after allegedly targeting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his family

A man has been charged with stalking and possession of a flick knife after allegedly targeting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his family.

Inigo Rowland, 58, of Surbiton, south London, was arrested last Monday, but it was only made public on Sunday.

He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody, the Met Police said.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between June and October.

Sir Ed, the MP for Kingston and Surbiton, lives in southwest London with his wife, Emily, their 17-year-old son John, and his younger sister Ellie.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “Inigo Rowland, 58, of Surbiton has been charged with stalking and possession of a flick knife.

“He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 7 October and was remanded into custody. He will next appear at the same court on Tuesday, 14 October.

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“He was arrested on Monday, 6 October in relation to the offences, which are alleged to have taken place between June and October.”

A Lib Dem spokesperson said: “We cannot provide any details at this time, Ed’s number one priority is the safety of his family.”

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Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins dies after attack in prison

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Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins dies after attack in prison

Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has died after being attacked in prison.

Watkins, 48, was serving a 29-year jail term for multiple sexual offences, including serious crimes against young children and babies at HMP Wakefield, in West Yorkshire.

He was attacked with a knife by another inmate on Saturday morning, sources have confirmed.

West Yorkshire Police said two men, aged 25 and 43, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

A police van outside Wakefield prison. Pic: YappApp
Image:
A police van outside Wakefield prison. Pic: YappApp

Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene after prison staff reported the assault to police.

The prison went into lockdown in the immediate aftermath of the incident, sources added.

A Prison Service spokesperson said they could not comment while the police investigate.

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Watkins was previously stabbed in an incident at the same prison in 2023, suffering non life-threatening injuries after he was reportedly taken hostage by three other inmates before being freed by prison officers six hours later.

He was sentenced in December 2013 to 29 years in prison, with a further six years on licence, after admitting 13 sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.

Watkins performing in 2004. Pic: PA
Image:
Watkins performing in 2004. Pic: PA

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He also encouraged a second fan to abuse her child during a webcam chat and secretly stashed child sexual abuse videos, some of which he had made himself.

At the time, police described him as a “committed, organised paedophile”.

Having found fame in Welsh rock band Lostprophets, Watkins was arrested after his Pontypridd home was searched on orders of a drug warrant in September 2012.

A large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices were seized during the search.

When sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court, the singer was told he was being given an extended sentence – and a judge said his crimes “plumbed new depths of depravity”.

After being caught with a mobile phone behind bars in 2019, he told a court that he was locked up with “murderers, mass murderers, rapists, paedophiles, serial killers – the worst of the worst”.

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