The brave survivors of “predatory and dangerous” Paul Callanin have welcomed his sentencing after the Bonhill rapist was caged for 11 years.
Callanin, 35, was found guilty of attacking Alexandra Bhengu-Smith, Violet Fox and Danielle Barr, who all waived their rights to anonymity last month.
He preyed on all three victims between 2005 and 2013 across Dumbarton, Alexandria, Balloch and Renton.
The three survivors, who have vowed to support other victims of sexual violence, travelled to Aberdeen on Thursday last week with their families as Callanin was sentenced for his crimes at the city’s High Court.
Holding up ‘we believe you’ signs, outside the building, they sent a strong message to other survivors of sexual violence and later told the Lennox Herald they were “satisfied” with the sentencing handed down.
Judge William Summers sentenced him to 11 years behind bars, with an additional three years spent on licence.
Callanin, who appeared via video link, has also been placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
Alexandra, 31, said: “We are pleased with the sentencing and feel pretty satisfied. We had a rough idea of what the sentencing would be.
“It’s good to know he will not be released early and will need to serve the full sentence.
“Now he will rot in a cell while we can finally start to move on.”
Violet, 33, said the sentencing provided “closure”, telling the Lennox: “I feel really good about the sentencing. It feels like the justice system was in our favour. It’s finally all coming to an end and I can start moving forward.”
The trio have formed a close friendship following the trial, which was held at the High Court in Glasgow.
Violet added: “The three of us are really close. At the start of it all I was broken and lonely and now we have each other and are totally bonded. We are all empowered.”
Detective Chief Inspector Hannah Edward from Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Division welcomed the sentencing and said her thoughts remain with the victims.
She said: “Callanin is a predatory and dangerous man who has committed a variety of serious sexual crimes against women over a protracted period of time.
“He will now face the consequences of his despicable actions in prison.
“We acknowledge how difficult this has been for Callanin’s victims and their families. We hope his conviction and sentencing will bring them some comfort and our thoughts remain with them at this time. We would like to take this opportunity to reach out to any victims of sexual crime, no matter when the offence happened, please report it to police.
“This type of behaviour will not be tolerated and any report will be thoroughly investigated while being supported by the relevant agencies.”
In February, jurors heard Callanin preyed on Alexandra Bhengu-Smith, who was just 14 during the first attack, at different addresses in Alexandria.
When she was an adult, he pushed her onto a bed, held her down and raped her.
Second victim Danielle Barr was raped in a car park in Desire Nightclub in Balloch on December 25, 2011.
He then raped her again to her injury that same day at a flat in Renton.
The final victim, Violet Fox, was initially subjected to a sex attack at a photography studio in Dumbarton and then later raped at a flat in Renton.
Callanin had denied the accusations during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow forcing all three survivors to give evidence against him.
He was convicted by a jury after they listened to all the evidence in the case.
The Rape Crisis Scotland helpline is on 08088 01 03 02
