News Articles
24th March, 2006
Five years for gay sex attacker
(source BBC)
A man who kidnapped young male victims and sexually assaulted and robbed them has been jailed for five years.
DIY store worker Cyrus Winton, 26, abducted his victims in Glasgow city centre and drove them to remote spots outside the city.
Winton, from Torrance, attacked them, stole their wallets and abandoned them.
At the High Court in Glasgow, the judge described Winton as a "very dangerous young man". He was also placed under a five-year supervision order on release.
The court heard how Winton, of Atholl Avenue, sought out young men who were drunk. He kept their wallets as souvenirs.
The accused, who was a kitchen sales worker at B&Q in Bishopbriggs, targeted two 17-year-olds and a young married father aged 24, who thought he was getting into a taxi after a Christmas night out.
He drove them into the countryside where they were attacked and robbed before being left to find their way to safety in the darkness.
Judge Alistair Stewart QC said reports from a social worker and a psychologist indicated that he was at a medium to high risk of carrying out more attacks.
Judge Stewart told him: "I don't think I am being unfair to you when I describe you as a very dangerous young man."
All of the attacks took place in 2004. One took place on 13 November at Baldernock Linn, Balmore, and the other two on 1 and 9 December at Bardowie Farm and Craigmaddie Road, also in Balmore.
Winton's 24-year-old victim had earlier told the court how he was driven out to a quiet country spot near Winton's home in Torrance, dragged out of his car and assaulted at knifepoint.
The nurse said he had now got over the attack and his marriage was unaffected.
However, one of the 17-year-old victims said the assault had wrecked his life.
Winton was placed on the sex offenders' register.
Sexual orientation
Tim Hopkins of the Lesbian and Gay Equality Network said men who had been assaulted could have "difficulties" in reporting the incident to police.
He told BBC Scotland: "In addition to all the other trauma, if the victim is not gay he may be concerned about assumptions being made about his sexual orientation by the police.
"If the victim is gay himself he may be concerned about the police being less sympathetic."
Det Supt David Leith of Strathclyde Police said: "I have no information that there were other victims of Cyrus Winton, but if there are, please feel confident to come forward."
