Police have praised the “immense courage” of a woman who came forward more than 20 years after being raped by a man who had previously been convicted of another rape.
Following a three-day Royal Court trial, Simon Paul De La Haye (53) was today unanimously found guilty by a jury of raping a woman in the early 2000s.
After his victim came forward to the police, De La Haye – whose internet history included searches for rape pornography – was arrested in December 2023 and charged in September 2024.
The woman had claimed that De La Haye had not only abused her, but threatened to harm her and her loved ones.
De La Haye denied the charge – maintaining throughout that the allegations were made up – but a jury ultimately decided that he was guilty after around two hours of deliberation.
Speaking following the conclusion of the trial today, Detective Sergeant Alasdair Castle from the Criminal Investigations Department commended the “immense courage of the victim coming forward to report a serious sexual offence after so many years”.
He also praised DC Tamas Barta, who he said had “worked diligently alongside our valued partners who support victims, and the Law Officers, to achieve this outcome”.
“We will continue to ensure victims are supported through the criminal justice process and urge other victims of sexual crimes to seek help or to report what happened. We will continue to listen, to investigate thoroughly and bring offenders to justice,” he added.
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 17 December. He was placed on the sex offenders’ register in the meantime.
Crown Advocate Emma Hollywood was prosecuting, and Advocate Adam Harrison appeared for the defendant. Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae was presiding.