Offended residents of a tightknit group in Midlothian took to the streets in protest on Tuesday evening after a rapist accountable for one of many worst intercourse assaults in Scottish legal historical past was given a home of their neighbourhood.
Robert Greens, 44, was nicknamed the Da Vinci rapist after brutally raping and beating a Dutch pupil close to Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian in 2005. The 19-year-old lady suffered such extreme accidents, medics initially thought they'd been brought on by a automobile crash.
The sufferer was held at knifepoint in the course of the terrifying ordeal, which noticed Greens jailed for 10 years. Nevertheless, now the rapist - whom locals consider is a excessive danger to reoffend - has been housed amongst a group full of households, who're scared of the abuser.
Locals found his new location final week and have staged a number of protests exterior the property in Neatoune Courtroom since then.
On Tuesday evening, neighbours sang songs to peacefully vent their anger. Among the many chants had been calls of "Robert Greens, intercourse offender"; "we will not be moved" and "what do we would like? Rob Greens out... When do we would like it? Now."
Dad-of-two Tim Fitchett, who lives in Midlothian, was among the many group on the scene, as a 'rapist scum get oot' signal was pinned to Greens door.
Chatting with the Report, Tim mentioned: "There was prove of round 20 or 30 folks. The police turned up to ensure there was no public dysfunction - however this can be a peaceable protest. We've very severe issues about him residing wherever in Midlothian - not simply Danderhall.
"We're not going to surrender till he's moved out of Midlothian. It's disgusting that he has been positioned right here.
"This man has been convicted of what has been described by the decide who sentenced him as 'the worst intercourse crime that has been dropped at courtroom in Scottish historical past'. If that's the case, then absolutely somebody with any widespread sense would realise that possibly he should not be positioned again in an space the place he has lived - an space that he is aware of nicely.
"We've obtained severe issues about what may probably occur to somebody in our group."
Yesterday we informed how Scots mum Daniella Quin doesn’t really feel protected in her own residence and was compelled to barricade a window after Greens was housed above her - and footage taken on Tuesday evening confirmed the phrases 'get out beast' penned on Greens' door.
Tim mentioned: "The consultants have mentioned he's a excessive danger to reoffend. There are care staff on this space which are refusing to work at sure occasions of the night as a result of they do not really feel protected. There may be the girl residing down beneath him that's completely petrified."
He added: "We simply wish to make it very clear that if there was any vandalism or something thrown, it has not been performed by anybody associated to this protest group. We're not thugs.
"We're all very peaceable folks and this can be a peaceable protest. We're simply right here singing songs, nothing violent.
"We've made it very clear to the police that we're right here for the lengthy haul and we are going to proceed to return down right here till he's moved. We're going to be sure that our voice is heard and we will probably be down right here each single day.
"We try to get as many individuals concerned on this as we are able to simply now. The one method that is going to get resolved is by the council approaching us and getting around the desk with us and asking what our issues are."
Greens was free of jail in 2012, having served two-thirds of his sentence. The next 12 months, he was returned to jail after he broke one of many circumstances of his launch by visiting the hometown of his former spouse. He was once more launched in 2017 however hauled again to jail after one other breach.
The protest group, dubbed 'Take away Robert Greens from Danderhall', may be discovered on Fb and TikTok the place they may replace followers on future protests.
A Police Scotland spokesperson mentioned: “Police had been made conscious of a gathering exterior a property in Neatoune Courtroom, Danderhall, round 6.30pm on Tuesday, October 11. Officers are in attendance.”
A Midlothian Council spokesman mentioned: “We don't touch upon particular person circumstances. Public security is of paramount significance and, the place acceptable, we work with our companions to make sure that there are strong processes and procedures in place.”
Do not miss the most recent information from round Scotland and past - Signal as much as our every day publication right here.