Rapist Wins Legal Aid

Langholm rapist cop

to escape paying legal costs

Sep 18 2009 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Friday

A RAPIST cop has been spared a hefty expenses bill after his former bosses admitted there was no point pursuing him over a failed court bid.

It was confirmed yesterday that council and police officials agreed not to demand Adam Carruthers stump up a bill for his court action against them to claw back his pension.

The council’s legal costs in defending the shamed former Langholm Inspector’s fight is understood to be in the region of £10,500.

Rapist case expenses bid dropped

A council will not try to recoup its expenses after successfully defending its decision to cut the pension of a police officer convicted of rape.

Adam Carruthers was jailed in 2001 for raping two women while serving as a policeman at Langholm in Dumfriesshire.

Dumfries and Galloway Council withheld its part of his pension and a sheriff ruled it was entitled to do so.

The authority said any expenses for the case would be so low that it was not in the public interest to pursue them.

A decision on expenses was deferred until a later date.

Carruthers’ case hits taxpayers

Aug 26 2009 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

TAXPAYERS in Dumfries and Galloway will have to pick up a £10,500 bill for a rapist cop’s failed court bid.

One of Carruthers’ victims, Jane Dearie, who has waived her right to anonymity, yesterday called on him to fork out the money.

She said: “It will therefore be local council tax payers, and many of the victims who pay council tax in Dumfries and Galloway, myself included, who are again being hit by the arrogant folly of this serial rapist.

“As this isn’t ‘costing him’ Carruthers doesn’t care.

“I object to my council tax being used in this way when the council is so cash-strapped and the money could be better spent elsewhere in the region on more deserving issues.

A FORMER Langholm cop convicted of rape has had his bid to re-claim his full police pension thrown out

In a written judgement Sheriff Kenneth Ross dismissed Adam Carruthers’ case adding that he had “no right” to the money.

A hearing will be held on September 3 on expenses in the case.

Langholm Monument

He has already received upwards of £100,000 for legal representation relating to his conviction and other claims.

His trial and failed appeal cost £101,395, and he also obtained close to £10,000 while in prison for "advice and assistance" and to raise a number of civil claims, including £2,100 compensation for slopping out.

His action over his reduced pension could cost the taxpayer a further £100,000.

Bizarre double life of a rapist

[ADAM Carruthers], 38, was a prominent figure in the community he served until his suspension from duty in November 1998. He was also a member of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary Pipe Band.

The community of Penpont, near Dumfries, was divided last night over Carruthers. Some saw him as a pillar of the community and others as a bully about whom they were scared to speak.

In Langholm, there were persistent rumours and complaints by women led to the initial inquiry by Dumfries and Galloway CID and his suspension.

The judge reminded Carruthers that he had attacked one woman, known as Mrs X, on her sick bed, after she had tried to commit suicide because of his abuse.

Sordid Baton Sex Attacks
A SENIOR policeman accused of rape and sordid sex attacks using his baton told a jury yesterday his alleged victims had lied.

Insp Adam Carruthers, 38, claimed one of the women even asked him for advice on producing a photofit of the man she said raped her.

http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/shtml/NEWS/P15S1.shtml

MASONIC COVER-UP CLAIM ON RAPE COP

RAPIST cop Adam Carruthers may have used masonic links to cover up his crimes, it was claimed yesterday. The former police inspector was jailed for 12 years last week for raping two women. Now, 31 women in Dumfries and Galloway have come forward to accuse him of sexual assaults, including rape. An inquiry into the new allegations is being handled by Lothian and Borders officers.
Carruthers, 38, used his status to threaten terrified victims into keeping quiet. His sexual conduct brought warnings from his bosses, dating back 16 years. He was still promoted to inspector.
The first inquiry, carried out by Dumfries and Galloway colleagues, collapsed in 1998.
Last night, insiders hinted masonic links might have helped him escape justice. A former senior officer, who served with Carruthers, said: "It would be more surprising if he was not a mason. He was known to be involved with women in various towns and there were complaints. But he was simply moved and was promoted."
Former Labour MP Maria Fyfe urged the Scottish Executive to launch an independent inquiry into the masonic links, adding:
"It's extraordinary he was promoted when his behaviour was known about."

Dr Elaine Murray, MSP for Dumfries, backed her call. A lodge spokesman and Dumfries and Galloway Police said masonic membership would not have altered how Carruthers was dealt with.

Victim applauds pension refusal

Aug 21 2009 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Friday

A VICTIM of rapist cop Adam Carruthers fears the sex beast will launch an appeal against a court refusal to reinstate his pension.

Jane Dearie, who has waived her right to anonymity, praised Wednesday’s decision by Sheriff Kenneth Ross at Dumfries which threw out the 47-year-old former Langholm inspector’s claim to an £13,053-a-year pension and a £56,654 lump sum.

But she admitted: “After the last 12 years of Carruthers’ many legal appeals and actions, I will not be surprised if he appeals this decision if he can.

“Time will tell.”

The vile ex-copper was released last year following his 2001 conviction for the brutal rape of two women.

While he was inside, employers Dumfries and Galloway Council cut his pension by 65 per cent, deeming his actions had led to a serious loss of confidence in the public service.

That leaves Carruthers with only the £4,860-a-year he has contributed himself.

His move to claim back the money during a three-day hearing at Dumfries Sheriff Court in June angered many because he was using legal aid.

Any appeal would likely require more of that cash.

Yesterday, his legal team at Alexander George and Co in Banff, Aberdeenshire, refused to comment if he would appeal.

Jane added: “This is the most sensible piece of news that could come out of the case where income tax and council tax payers’ money footed Carruthers’ legal aid bill for his attempt to get his full police pension re-instated.

“Had Carruthers been successful in this ridiculous quest, it would have given the potential for any employee who had committed rape through the course of their employment the ability to claim and receive their full pension – thus making rape a pensionable occupation.

Writing in her online blog, she said: “I’m sure I don’t have to spell out how dreadful such a decision would have been and what message it would give out to the perpetrators of such heinous crimes as well as to their victims.”

The court decision was also welcomed by Dumfries MSP Elaine Murray: “I am pleased that sense has prevailed.

“He used his job as a senior police officer to abuse his victims and should not be recompensed for having done so.”

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