Bathgate, West Lothian: Kevin Vivers

CONVICTED (2024) | Kevin Vivers, born 1965, with a last known address of Dalling Avenue, Bathgate EH48 2SB – for a catalogue of animal cruelty offences, rapes and sexual assaults over 36 years.

Serial rapist and animal killer Kevin Vivers from Bathgate, West Lothian, was given a life sentence

Vivers originally denied a series of charges, but was convicted of 27 crimes, including five animal cruelty offences alongside nine rape charges, seven assaults, and four sexual assaults.

His crimes in West Lothian and Stirlingshire spanned from when he was still a teenager in 1985 until 2021.

Vivers killed animals and subjected seven female victims, including a minor aged 13/14, to assaults, sexual assaults and rapes.

Serial rapist and animal killer Kevin Vivers from Bathgate, West Lothian, was given a life sentence

His first episode of animal cruelty was in 1985 when he began repeatedly punching a dog and kicking a cat.

In or around 2012 he attacked two dogs by lifting them by their collars, hitting them with sticks and kicking them.

In or around 1993 in Bathgate he killed two dogs by shooting one animal and slitting the throat of the other.

Vivers also apparently used dogs to hunt rabbits, deer and foxes and also allegedly drowned dogs.

Serial rapist and animal killer Kevin Vivers from Bathgate, West Lothian, was given a life sentence

A judge at the High Court in Edinburgh imposed a lifelong restriction order on Vivers and said he must serve a minimum of 10 years in prison.

Lord Lake told Vivers: “I must make it clear this does not mean you will be released automatically at the end of that period.”

He told the sex offender he would only ever be freed from jail if parole authorities were satisfied his release would not endanger public safety.

Expert reports prepared on Vivers concluded that he presented a high risk.

Lord Lake told him: “Your offences are of a serious kind, even when taken individually. When considered together they show a depraved course of conduct.”

He told the court via a video link to prison: “I have been penalised for something that is well and truly unproved.”

Serial rapist and animal killer Kevin Vivers from Bathgate, West Lothian, was given a life sentence

Det Ch Insp Steven McMillan said: “This was a difficult case due to the horrendous nature of Vivers’s crimes and the sickening animal abuse, which spanned so many years.

“I want to make it clear to anyone who has experienced sexual abuse that there is no time limit on when you can report these crimes. I would encourage any victims to come forward and report it to police.”

Vivers has been placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Lord Lake also made orders prohibiting Vivers from directly or indirectly contacting his victims.

Sentencing | lifelong restriction order with minimum 10 years to be served behind bars.

BBC News

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