Former Director Jailed for Serial Sexual Offences
John Dodd, a 41-year-old former company director, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison following his conviction for raping a woman while she was in a hospital bed, as part of a series of violent and sexual offences committed against two women in the Highlands.
Dodd committed multiple crimes against two victims, involving repeated rapes and sexual assaults from 2004 to 2022. These offences occurred in various locations including Tain, Alness, Inverness, and Clashmore.
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Dodd was found guilty of 14 serious charges related to violence and sexual abuse against the two women.
Judge's Remarks on the Severity of the Crimes
"It was almost unbelievable he raped the first victim when she was in a hospital bed, unwell and heavily pregnant,"
Judge Norman McFadyen KC expressed his shock at the circumstances of the first rape. He further noted that the victims endured violent, controlling behaviour alongside serious sexual offences.
"The victims were subjected to violent and controlling behaviour and serious sexual offences."
"Dodd, who maintains he is innocent, had shown no victim empathy but instead indulged in straightforward victim blaming."
Details of the Offences Against the First Victim
Dodd, formerly residing in Clashmore near Dornoch, first assaulted the initial victim at a cottage in Sutherland. During this incident, he forcibly removed her clothing, pushed her onto a bed, and lunged at her, causing her to hit her head and fall to the floor.
Between March 2006 and May 2007, he repeatedly molested and raped the woman at a residence in Alness, including occasions when she was asleep.
In May 2006, Dodd attacked the same victim while she was a patient at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Abusive Behaviour Towards the Second Victim
Between 2021 and 2023, Dodd subjected a second woman to ongoing abusive conduct across various locations in the Highlands. His actions included grabbing and kicking her, forcibly bending her fingers backward, shouting, swearing, and displaying aggressive behaviour.
He exercised control over her clothing choices, restricted her contact with family and friends, and monitored her movements, phone usage, and social media activity.
Dodd coerced her into taking photographs while her son was hospitalized, followed her vehicle, drove past her, and stared at her.
In December 2021, he sent the woman an explicit photograph of himself while at Raigmore Hospital.
Dodd also raped the second victim and performed sexual acts on her on multiple occasions at addresses in Tain and Dornoch, both while she was asleep and awake.
On one occasion, he abducted and raped her inside a car near Brora, locking the doors to prevent her escape before committing the assault.
On another occasion, he attacked her at a cottage near Dornoch, pinning her against kitchen units before raping her.
Defence and Sentencing
Defence counsel Louis Bendle addressed the court, stating:
"Although he maintains his denial of the offences he is under no illusion that they are extremely serious and a custodial sentence is inevitable. He maintains his innocence which is not unusual in cases such as this. He has lived an otherwise pro-social lifestyle, with supportive friends and family."
Dodd was remanded in custody at the conclusion of the trial and participated in the sentencing hearing via video link from prison.
The judge imposed non-harassment orders preventing Dodd from contacting or attempting to contact the victims and placed him under license for three years following his release.
Additionally, Dodd was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.
