‘It meant I had to see him again, but he can’t hurt me now’: Survivor speaks out as serial abuser and rapist jailed

SURVIVORS of a serial abuser say they have renewed faith in justice after their attacker was put behind bars.

Predator Stuart Murray, 31, raped his then-girlfriend twice, attacked another girlfriend who was pregnant and also attempted to rape her.

The father-of-two from Alloa started his campaign of abuse in 2010.

It came to an end in 2016 when he was arrested by Fife’s domestic abuse police officers.

At the High Court in Glasgow last week, Lord Kinclaven ordered Murray to spend eight years and six months behind bars – a sentence welcomed by his victims.

As he was led away in handcuffs, he could be heard swearing and shouting “miscarriage of justice” before being removed from court.

Brave survivors have welcomed the sentencing, and said it has given them “renewed faith” that abusers will be held accountable for their actions.

Emma, not her real name, who was twice raped by Murray, said: “I can finally move on with my life now, and I am so happy I testified against him.

“It was such a hard thing to have to do, and I didn’t know that I could do it, but now that he’s gone to jail for everything he has done to me, and the other women, it was all worth it.

“Going to court to see him sentenced was harder than giving evidence in the trial.

“It meant I had to see him again, watch him staring at me, but I know he can’t hurt us now.”

The 25-year-old from Kirkcaldy criticised Murray’s solicitor, who asked the judge for leniency. The lawyer argued that the crimes were “unusual” in that they had been committed while in otherwise “consensual sexual relationships”.

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Emma said: “When I heard that, I was so angry. No means no, whether you are in a relationship or not.”

The Sunday Post previously reported how women who are victims of sexual violence while in relationships can find it more difficult to report their abuse, due to the complications of family involvement.

If you have experienced domestic violence, contact Women’s Aid (0800 027 1234), Rape Crisis (08088 010302) or Police Scotland (101).