Rapist who blamed his victims is jailed for 10 years

A rapist who preyed on teenagers has been jailed for 10 years.

Karl Calder-Harley raped three victims and had unlawful sex with one of them while she was underage.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard the 26-year-old would collect the underage girl from school while she was in her uniform.

A detective investigating Calder-Harley’s offences across Forth Valley said he “conducted violent and controlling behaviour towards his victims”.

On Tuesday, the sentencing judge said the victim impact statements made “harrowing reading”.

Lord Colbeck said: “You accept no responsibility for the offences you have been convicted of and blame your victims.”

Calder-Harley, formerly of Stenhousemuir in Falkirk, raped his first victim between June 2013 and June 2014 when she was aged around 18.

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He pushed the teen’s head into a pillow and forced her to remain on the bed despite pleading for him to stop.

Calder-Harley raped and assaulted his second victim, who was around 15 at the time, between April 2016 and June 2017. He was also convicted of having unlawful sex with her while she was underage.

Calder-Harley then targeted his third victim shortly after she turned 13 after finding her on TikTok.

The judge said he had particular regard to the ages of the victims and noted that in the offence against the youngest there was “a degree of planning” as Calder-Harley had arranged to take her for a drive after contacting her via social media.

Calder-Harley sexually assaulted and raped the girl in his customised Ford Mondeo after driving to an area between the villages of Airth in Falkirk and Throsk in Stirling in December 2020.

He was said to have told the girl not to save any of the Snapchat messages they exchanged.

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Calder-Harley had denied the offences during an earlier trial at the High Court in Stirling but was found guilty of the four sex crimes.

The court heard he has since shown no insight into his behaviour and has been assessed as posing a medium risk of sexual offending.

Lord Colbeck said: “You continue to deny any responsibility for the offences of which you have been convicted. They are each offences of the utmost seriousness.”

Following his time in jail, Calder-Harley will be kept under supervision for three years. If he breaches the conditions of his licence, he can be returned to prison.

Calder-Harley was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. In addition, Lord Colbeck also granted non-harassment orders to prohibit Calder-Harley from contacting his victims.

After the court case, Detective Inspector Forbes Wilson said: “Calder-Harley conducted violent and controlling behaviour towards his victims and I hope this verdict will bring some form of closure for them.

“Police Scotland is committed to bringing those responsible for sexual and physical abuse crimes to justice and works with a number of partner agencies in the justice and third sector to support victims and carry out investigations.

“Anyone with any concerns or information, no matter the length of time that has passed, should contact Police Scotland via 101 or make a call anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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