Man jailed in sexual abuse case

A man who sexually abused two teenage girls in Midlothian over three decades has been jailed.

At the High Court in Edinburgh today John McCallum was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual offences against twin sisters Tracy and Rachel Steadwood.

McCallum, 53, was responsible for the prolonged abuse of his now forty-year-old victims throughout the 70s, 80s and early 90s.

The pair, who waived their right to anonymity, provided detectives with vital information that ultimately led to the 53-year-old being charged.

He was found guilty earlier this month and Police Scotland has welcomed today’s sentence.

Detective Chief Inspector Kenny Gray said:= “John McCallum is a predatory individual who subjected his victims to a significant period of abuse throughout their teenage years and young adult lives.

“If not for the courage of these women in coming forward, his offences may have gone undetected and I would like to once again praise both Tracy and Rachel for their bravery during our investigation.

“I sincerely hope that today’s sentence encourages other victims of sexual crimes, who may be suffering in silence, to come forward and report their abuse to police.

“Police Scotland is committed to keeping people safe and will thoroughly investigate any reports of sexual abuse, regardless of when the offences took place.

“Anyone wishing to report a crime of this nature can contact Police Scotland on 101, or make a third-party report through Rape Crisis or Women’s Aid.”