Man raped teenage girl 300 times

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A man raped a teenage girl 300 times over a seven-year period, a court has been told.

David Hiddleston, 74, of Anne Arundel Court, Heathhall, near Dumfries, admitted raping the girl on various occasions between 1973 and 1980.

The High Court in Glasgow heard the abuse began when his victim was 13 and continued until she was 20 years old.

Judge Lord Malcolm remanded Hiddleston in custody and deferred sentence for background reports.

Prosecutor Hugh Irwin said the victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons - tried to push Hiddleston away but he was too strong for her.

He said: "He continued to rape her for years.

"She calculated that between the ages of 13 and 18 he raped her 250 times and then a further 50 to 60 times between the ages of 18 and 20.

"She did not tell anyone until nine years ago when she told her GP after a suicide bid."

The court was told that the victim eventually went to the police and Hiddleston was charged with rape.

'Never agreed'

He admitted committing the offences on various occasions between 28 May 1973 and 23 April 1980.

Mr Irwin told the court that when Hiddleston was questioned by police he told them his victim was telling the truth and began threatening to kill himself.

He added: "The accused told police he first raped the girl when she was 13.

"He said: 'I forced myself on her. She never once agreed to what I did'."

The court was told that as a result of what happened to her the victim had no confidence, low self-esteem and suffered from depression.

Lord Malcolm put Hiddleston on the sex offenders register.

Solicitor advocate Bill McVicar will give his plea in mitigation when his client is sentenced next month.