Man found guilty of raping 13-year-old girl has conviction quashed

Sean Hogg, 22, was originally given 270 hours of community service after being convicted of rape.

His lawyers argued that the judge, Lord Lake, had misdirected the jury.

The Crown Office has now decided that it would not be in the public interest to seek a retrial.

Mr Hogg was spared prison after being convicted because of a sentencing guideline that favours rehabilitation for people under 25.

That guidelines is now under review.

The principle behind the guideline from the the Scottish Sentencing Council is that rehabilitation should be the “primary consideration” when dealing with offenders.

In 2021, the sentencing council suggested changes to the treatment of under-25s. Lady Dorrian, the council’s chairwoman, said: “We understand that cognitive maturity does not develop fully until one’s mid-20s and are persuaded that there is a case for sentencing young adults under the age of 25 on a different basis to older people.”