Man who raped woman 900 times in six years faces lifetime detention

A serial rapist is facing a “life-long restriction” after a 21-year reign of terror was brought to an end in the biggest policing operation by Scotland`s domestic abuse task forces (DATFs). Some 25 officers from Police Scotland`s three units spent months criss-crossing the country as well as liaising with English forces investigating the “deplorable” offences of Brian McTaggart. McTaggart was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow of a 40-strong catalogue of sexual and physical abuse offences against 18 victims. They included the rape of three women. The 53-year-old raped one woman more than 900 times in a six-year litany of non-consensual sex at their shared home – on one occasion in front of her own daughter. He also dropped a hair drier into her bath and kicked the long-term partner down a flight of stairs, the court heard. Another rape victim, now aged 43, was choked and had her head forced under water by McTaggart. He told his victims: “You belong to me. I can do anything I want.” Police Scotland DATF North Lead Detective Inspector Muriel Fuller said the six month investigation, which began in March 2016 after a victim came forward, had proved harrowing and exhaustive for officers. “In terms of complexity, scope and spread, this extensive operation has been the biggest of its kind for our domestic abuse task forces – covering all of Scotland and across the border into England,” Det Insp Fuller told Police Professional All the offences were committed in various addresses in Dundee between 1980 and 2001. Not proven verdicts were returned for charges of raping a fourth woman and raping a 30-year-old man. Judge Lord Mulholland told McTaggart: “Your conduct was deplorable treating a succession of women as chattels and punchbags. “You repeatedly raped three of these women and you have shown no remorse for your sexual crimes.” The High Court judge placed McTaggart on the Sex Offenders’ Register and told him he was considering imposing an order for “life long restriction”. Sentence has been deferred until November for a risk assessment and a background report. “The defendant is looking at a life time in jail,” added Det Insp Fuller.