A 13-year-old schoolgirl who was raped in a park is furious when her attacker appealed his conviction – despite being spared a prison sentence.
The case of Sean Hogg, who was 17 at the time of his attack, sparked anger when he was deemed too young to be jailed despite being found guilty of assaulting the teen.
His victim, now 18, was diagnosed with PTSD, suffered from panic attacks and self-harmed daily after the attacks.
She even had CCTV in her house so she could see who came on her street and wouldn’t leave the house without one of her grandparents.
The girl, who is anonymous to protect her identity, has criticized the sex beast’s decision to appeal his conviction.
The case of Sean Hogg, pictured, who was 17 at the time of his attack, sparked anger when he was deemed too young to be jailed despite being found guilty of assaulting the teen.
His victim, now 18, was diagnosed with PTSD, suffered from panic attacks and self-harmed daily after the attacks. In the photo: the girl next to her grandparents
‘I wonder what the point was? I am angry that he left the court a free man, but can still appeal,” she said the Daily Report.
“He was convicted of raping me but didn’t go to jail and he’s still not happy.”
New sentencing guidelines for under-25s meant that Sean Hogg was not sent to prison and was instead given 270 hours of unpaid work.
Critics, including Harry Potter author JK Rowling, said it was appalling for someone found guilty of rape to escape prison.
Hogg assaulted the young victim a number of times in 2018 at Dalkeith Country Park in Midlothian.
The victim’s grandmother further criticized the Crown Office – Scotland’s independent prosecution service – for their handling of the case.
She claims that they are not telling her granddaughter her rights and that they are forced to hear what is happening through the media.
She added: “The judge was wrong and something has to change, but it won’t happen if people stop reporting. We cannot allow young women like my granddaughter to be raped and then jailed for life and locked in her house again, terrified to go out.”
The 21-year-old from Hamilton, Lanarkshire, has now directed his legal team to challenge his conviction
A High Court judge in Glasgow (pictured) ordered Hogg, of Hamilton, Lanarkshire, to do 270 hours of unpaid work, sparking outrage and calls to review sentencing guidelines.
The Crown Office has not yet decided whether it will appeal against Hogg’s verdict.
The 21-year-old from Hamilton, Lanarkshire, has now directed his legal team to challenge his conviction.
His appeal has been lodged with the High Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh and a hearing will take place at a later date.
Hogg was convicted by the High Court in Glasgow earlier this month after being found guilty of rape.
Judge Lord Lake said he had to take Hogg’s age into account. In addition to community service, Hogg was placed under supervision and entered on the sex offender registry.
His victim spoke out earlier this week about the impact of the rape and subsequent punishment on her.
In a statement, she said she suffered from anxiety, nightmares and relationship problems.
She said, “The day my grandmother told me that Sean Hogg had been found guilty of rape, I thought there was a chance to be happy again. I knew he would go to prison.
“I was glad I reported it because I felt he should pay for what he had done.
“Why is it okay to rape someone and not go to jail? Why was he allowed to go on with his life when he clearly ruined mine? Didn’t the judge bother to read the trial I had undergone?
“Now I wonder why I even bothered to report the rape. Nothing happened.
“My grandparents felt they had abandoned me, but they didn’t. It was the judge who let me down.
“I didn’t get justice, the system failed me, the judge failed me, he didn’t protect me. I had done nothing wrong and yet he is a free man. You let him go, but gave me, the victim, a life sentence.’
The teen’s family has urged the Crown Office to appeal Hogg’s sentence, saying it is “unnecessarily lenient”.
Prime Minister Humza Yousaf said he understood the concerns expressed about the case, but stressed that sentencing is a matter for the judiciary.
A spokesman for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service said: “We have been notified that we will be appealing the conviction.”
A spokesperson for the Crown Office said: “The Crown is currently considering whether there are grounds for appealing against this verdict.”
