Court Denies Police Rapist Pension

Sheriff Court House, Dumfries

Ex – Inspector Adam Carruthers of Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary was convicted in 2001 for raping two women while serving as a sergeant at Langholm in Dumfriesshire.

When sentencing Carruthers at Glasgow High Court, judge Lord Dawson told him he was "a total disgrace to the uniform. I cannot express the revulsion and contempt with which decent members of society regard you."

Dumfries and Galloway Council withheld its part of his pension which Carruthers maintained he was entitled to.

However, following three days of legal debate earlier this year a sheriff has now dismissed Carruthers' application to overturn the council's decision.

Carruthers was released from prison last year and took court action to get back the pension shortfall which caused protests outside Dumfries Sheriff Court by the friends and family of his victims while the case was debated.

Lawyers for Carruthers had argued that the pension was his property and he was entitled to it under European Human Rights legislation.

Dumfries & Galloway Council stated that Carruthers’ actions had caused a "serious loss of confidence in the public service" and the council was therefore entitled to withhold the funds.

In a written judgement, Sheriff Kenneth Ross has ruled that the council was within its rights to block his pension. A decision on expenses will be delivered by the court at a later date.

A council spokesman said it felt its stance had been "vindicated by the court".

"This is the first time in Scotland that the Police Pension Regulations have been used to forfeit a police officer's pension," he said. "We hope that Carruthers' victims will see this judgement as a positive reaction to the suffering they were caused by his offences."

Under the terms of his licence, Carruthers is not allowed to be alone with women for the remainder of his sentence, which expires in 2012.

He will remain on the sex offenders register for life and must notify the police of any change of address within three days of moving home.

He must also inform police if he plans to travel abroad for three days or more.

It was also recently reported that Carruthers unsuccessfully attempted to obtain employment as a cleaning supervisor at a local supermarket but did not proceed with his application when his identity became public.

http://www.policeoracle.com/news/Court-Denies-Police-Rapist-Pension_20011.html