ABDUCTED GIRL (13) RESCUED FROM HOME OF SEX OFFENDER
A 13-year-old Fife girl was rescued from the home of a sex offender by her family members who forced their way into the property.
They found the abducted girl, who had been hidden by James Haggerty under covers on a mattress on his living room floor.
Haggerty had locked the girl in his house in Glenrothes and physically assaulted her in a terrifying ordeal.
Her worried relatives used a mobile phone app to find her location and went to the home of the sex offender.
He made a quick escape and when police tracked him down the next day, a two-hour siege took place.
Haggerty, 26, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court by video-link from prison.
He admitted that being subject to a sexual offences prevention order imposed on 23rd December 2020, he breached it on 6th March at Julian Road, Glenrothes when he had unsupervised contact with a 13-year-old girl.
He abducted the girl, locked a door, refused to allow her to leave despite her asking him repeatedly to let her out.
He physically prevented her from accessing the door, detained her against her will, assaulted her and repeatedly pushed her to the ground to her injury.
He also admitted that on 7th March at The Henge, Glenrothes, he shouted, swore, threatened officers with violence, threw household items at officers, damaged windows and items in the property, presented knives and a hammer at officers and threw knives.
Haggerty has previously been jailed for breaching the order and had just been released from prison on 20th February.
On 6th March the 13-year-old girl willingly went to Haggerty’s home with a 16-year-old friend. The older girl left to go to a nearby shop, saying she would only be away for a couple of minutes, depute fiscal Sarah Smith told the court.
Haggerty closed and locked the door “which made the girl feel uncomfortable”.
She repeatedly asked him to open the door and let her out but he told her to stay with him, leading to a struggle.
The girl reached for the key to open the door and Haggerty grabbed her. She shoved him and he retaliated by pushing her against a wall.
She pushed him again and Haggerty grabbed her by her clothing, pushing her to the ground in the living room. As she was getting up, he pushed her down again, injuring her back and knee when she fell.
There was then a disturbance from the flats below and Haggerty pushed the girl on to a mattress on the living room floor.
The depute went on, “He hovered over her telling her, ‘If you talk, move or anything, see what happens’. He then put the duvet over her, completely covering her and she ‘felt frozen with fear’.”
At this time, the girl’s mum was trying to track her down, as she had failed to return home the night before.
She was helped by a relative using a social media application which showed the girl was in the vicinity of Haggerty’s home.
Haggerty’s history was known in the community and the girl’s mum and cousin went to his home, repeatedly knocking and banging on the door.
When there was no answer, they attempted to enter but found the door was locked. Due to the commotion at the door, a neighbour called the police.
The girl’s mum and cousin then forced entry. The girl heard the door flying open and a shout of, “Where the f***’s my cousin?”
The woman found the young girl under the covers with Haggerty lying on the floor beside the mattress.
He got up and quickly left the premises before police arrived and the girl was taken home.
A search was launched to find Haggerty, who called the police saying he was going to jump from a bridge and also threatened to cut his throat with a knife.
He was not found at that time but at 1.30pm the next day, police received information that Haggerty was at a friend’s home.
There was no answer when police went to the door but Haggerty appeared at a window threatening officers.
He began headbutting and smashing windows, brandishing knives and when firearms officers arrived, he shouted, “You’ll have to shoot me to get me out the house.”
Fire and ambulance services were also asked to attend as well as a police dog handler.
After two hours Rafferty gave himself up and was found to have a broken nose and cuts to his arms.
Sheriff Steven Borthwick called for reports and said an extended jail sentence would be considered. Haggerty will remain in custody until sentencing on 4th November.
Court copy attached and pic of sex offender James Haggerty (DOB 5.3.99).
Gary
