Highland man (22) found guilty of raping teenage girl in Inverness
A convicted domestic abuser who sexually assaulted a drunk teenage girl in a guest house has been jailed after jurors convicted him of rape.
Cameron Huggins (22), preyed on the 16-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - in accommodation in Inverness on April 10, 2023.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Huggins raped his victim whilst she was incapable of consenting to sex because of the effects of alcohol.
He locked the door of the room before he forcibly pulled down a pair of trousers she was wearing before removing her “lower clothing” and seizing her arm.
He then restrained her before raping her by having sex without her consent.
Jurors found him guilty on a rape charge. Huggins, of Muir of Ord, denied any wrongdoing during proceedings.
It is not the first time that Huggins has been in trouble with the authorities. The jury heard he had a previous conviction for domestic abuse.
In October 2024, it was reported that Huggins was already on a non-harassment order to protect an ex-partner when he appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit charges of assault and threatening behaviour on a new partner.
On that occasion, Huggins was placed under social work supervision for two years.
Sheriff David Harvie ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work and to take part in the domestic abuser’s rehabilitation programme.
In the present case, jurors heard evidence which showed that the offender targeted his victim following a party at the accommodation.
During proceedings, the court heard how Huggins claimed he had consensual sex with the girl. But the woman told police officers who managed to gather enough evidence to bring him to justice.
The court heard that following the attack, the woman was “shaking” and “in tears”.
During proceedings, Huggins told defence advocate Kelly Duling that he was telling the truth when he said he didn’t rape the girl.
He added: “I don’t lie.”
He also told Ms Duling that he couldn’t understand why the girl claimed she had been raped.
Huggins added: “It felt like a bit of a set up if I’m going to be honest with you.”
He told the court that he told police officers who came to investigate claims of wrongdoing that he hadn’t done anything wrong.
He added: “I asked them if they could take me down for questioning.”
In her closing speech to jurors, Ms Duling urged them to acquit her client saying that the Crown hadn’t proven their case against her client and that Huggins had told the truth in evidence.
She said: “The Crown haven’t done it here. I submit to you that Mr Huggins has told you the truth - the good, the bad, the ugly and awful bits of it.”
Following conviction, Ms Duling said she’d reserve her mitigation for Huggins until his sentencing hearing which will be held later this year.
Ms Duling added: “I would ask for his bail to be continued.”
However, judge Stirling sent him to jail.
She added: “Standing the nature of the inevitability of custody in this case, I am going to remand you in custody.”
Huggins will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on July 2.
