Dundee Serial Rapist Receives 14-Year Sentence for Terrifying Knifepoint Attacks
A serial rapist who carried out a series of brutal assaults on vulnerable sex workers while armed with a knife has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. Alexander Steven, 52, was convicted of attacking five women in Dundee over a two-year period between October 2020 and October 2022.
Deliberate Targeting of Vulnerable Victims
At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Norman McFadyen, KC, stated that the evidence clearly demonstrated Steven had deliberately targeted sex workers who were from overseas. The judge emphasized that Steven believed these women were unlikely to report the crimes to authorities due to their vulnerable positions.
'Their vulnerability was such that you believed they were unlikely to go to the police,' Judge McFadyen told Steven during sentencing. The court heard disturbing details of how Steven would make appointments with women who typically worked alone, arriving armed with a knife to carry out his attacks.
Chilling Comments to Victims
One particularly chilling aspect of the case involved Steven telling a victim: 'Who are the police going to believe? A white Scottish man or a Brazilian prostitute?' This comment highlighted his calculated approach to selecting victims he believed would not be taken seriously by authorities.
Steven, who watched the proceedings via a television link from prison, was described by the judge as maintaining a double life. 'You are a man who has over some years maintained a double life: ostensibly a respectable, married man, well educated and holding down responsible jobs,' Judge McFadyen stated.
Employment Background and Denial of Charges
The court learned that Steven had been employed in a non-teaching role at the fee-paying High School of Dundee, working in the school's development office between May 2022 and May 2023. His former employer confirmed he was not a member of teaching staff.
Despite overwhelming evidence, Steven denied all charges against him. He was ultimately convicted of five rapes and two sexual assaults with intent to rape at various flats throughout Dundee. During the trial, he claimed the victims were participating in role play with him during the assaults, a defense the court rejected.
Additional Sentencing Measures
Judge McFadyen ordered that Steven should be under supervision for an additional four years following his release, during which time he can be returned to jail if he breaches his licence conditions. The judge also made non-harassment orders banning Steven from contacting or attempting to contact any of his victims.
In a significant additional measure, Steven was placed on the sex offenders register for life. Advocate depute Leanne Cross presented evidence showing how Steven systematically preyed on women in vulnerable positions, using his respectable outward appearance to conceal his predatory behavior.
The case has highlighted serious concerns about the protection of vulnerable sex workers and the challenges they face in reporting crimes to authorities. The sentencing sends a clear message about the severity of such calculated attacks on vulnerable members of society.
