Serial rapist who attacked woman in hospital bed jailed

A former company director has been jailed for 13 years after raping a woman in a hospital bed during a catalogue of violence and sexual abuse against victims in the Highlands.

John Dodd, 41, perpetrated crimes against two women who were subjected to repeated rapes and sexual assaults between 2004 and 2022 in Tain, Alness, Inverness and Clashmore.

He was found guilty of 14 charges of serious offences of violence and sexual abuse against the women at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Judge Norman McFadyen KC told Dodd it was "almost unbelievable" he raped the first victim when she "was in a hospital bed, unwell and heavily pregnant."

The judge said the victims were "subjected to violent and controlling behaviour and serious sexual offences."

He added Dodd, who maintains he is innocent, had shown no victim empathy but instead indulged in "straightforward victim blaming".

Dodd, formerly of Clashmore, near Dornoch, attacked his first victim at a cottage in Sutherland when he seized her clothing, pushed her onto a bed, lunged towards her resulting in her hitting her head and falling to the floor.

He also repeatedly molested and raped the woman at a house in Alness when she was asleep on occasions between March 2006 and May the following year.

In May 2006, he attacked the victim while she was in Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

Dodd also pursued a course of abusive behaviour towards a second woman between 2021 and 2023 at locations in the Highlands during which he grabbed and kicked her and forced her fingers backwards.

He shouted and swore at her, behaved aggressively, controlled what she wore, restricted her contact with family and friends, monitored and controlled her movements and use of her phone and social media.

He also made her take photographs while her son was in hospital and followed her car, drove past her and stared at her.

In December 2021, he sent the woman a photograph of his penis at Raigmore Hospital.

Dodd also raped the woman and carried out sex acts on her on various occasions at addresses in Tain and Dornoch when she was asleep and when she was awake.

On one occasion he abducted and raped the woman in a car. He locked the doors of the vehicle, preventing her leaving before carrying out the sex attack near Brora.

On another occasion he attacked her at a cottage near Dornoch and pinned her against kitchen units and raped her.

Defence counsel Louis Bendle told the court: "Although he maintains his denial of the offences he is under no illusion that they are extremely serious and a custodial sentence is inevitable.

"He maintains his innocence which is not unusual in cases such as this. He has lived an otherwise pro-social lifestyle, with supportive friends and family."

Dodd, who was remanded in custody at the end of the trial, followed the sentencing proceedings via a TV link to prison.

The judge made non-harassment orders prohibiting him contacting or attempting to contact victims and placed him under license for three years.

He was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.