Child rapist back in jail

Mar 15 2013 by Colin Rutherford, Kilmarnock Standard

A child rapist is back behind bars after breaching the terms of his release licence and the sex offenders register.

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court this week, Philip Borland, 22, pleaded guilty to failing to notify police of his change of address and of an alias he was using to access facebook.

But the court heard that Borland – jailed for six years in 2008 on four charges of raping young girls – had already been recalled to prison by the parole board.

Jo Cunningham, prosecuting, said that he had initially been housed in the Peden Court homeless hostel in Cumnock.

He was spoken to by social workers and police after failing to turn up at the hostel.

“He had stayed at a friend’s address, drinking all evening, “ said Ms Cunningham.

“Over the next few weeks his behaviour caused concern. He continued drinking and staying out late.”

Borland was warned that, “if his behaviour and attitude did not improve”, he could be thrown out of the hostel.

Despite what where described as “numerous breaches” of his licence conditions he was given a second chance and moved to Kilmarnock’s St Andrews hostel.

Borland, however, failed to book into the hostel, later telling police that he had spent one night in a bus garage and another at his father’s home.

He was then allocated a house and visited by police who left him a leaflet reminding him of his sex offenders registration obligations.

Borland did not officially notify police of his change of address.

His behaviour became more worrying last November when a concerned father went to Kilmarnock police station to report that his 16-year-old daughter was in a relationship with Borland.

Police went to his home where they found him with the girl.

“He was instructed to discontinue contact with the female,” said Ms Cunningham.

Police later spoke to the girl at her own home. She told officers that she knew his real name.

She said that Borland had told her that he was using the name ‘Philip Denny’ because he would not be able to use Facebook under his own name.

Police were subsequently able to access his Facebook profile under that name.

Kevin McCarron, defending, said that Borland was still subject to the sentence imposed at the High Court in Edinburgh and had been recalled by the parole board.

Said the solicitor: “The decision was taken on January 22 to confirm that he would not be re-released and the first review would be January 21 next year.”

Sheriff Seith Ireland deferred sentence until April 10 and called for a criminal justice social work report.

Borland was previously found guilty of four charges of rape, committed at houses in Kilmarnock between 2003 and 2006.

The High Court heard that he was only 13 when he first targeted his two victims.

He first sexually assaulted them when they were aged 10 and 11.

He threatened them, forced them to carry out sex acts and raped them.

Borland’s conduct continued over a three-year period.