NEWS: Predator

Mark McLaughlin
Edinburgh Evening News
March 7, 2009

THE father of a 14-year-old boy attacked during a spate of nine muggings today demanded the "disturbed predator" responsible serve his full term in prison.

Kevin Haughian preyed on teenage boys for cash, and his nine attacks left one victim practically housebound with fear, and another suffering from regular epileptic seizures, the High Court in Glasgow heard yesterday.

It emerged that 25-year-old Haughian was on licence at the time of the attacks, having been released early from a four-year jail term for a similar offence with a knife.

One of his first victims, a 14-year-old who cannot be named, was too afraid to leave the house after he and his 13-year-old friend were pursued from Frederick Street to Slateford Road, and threatened with a knife, before handing over their valuables.

The boy's 43-year-old father said: "I had no idea this man had been responsible for so many other muggings.

"I'm particularly concerned about the length of time my son was pursued before being mugged. This man is clearly some kind of disturbed predator.

"My son refused to go into town for nearly a month after it happened.

"He should serve at least his full six years in prison, especially as he committed these crimes on licence. It would be a disgrace if he gets out early again, and he should be tagged for the duration of his supervision."

Haughian had already mugged three other boys that day, September 13, in West Princes Street Gardens, after herding them at knifepoint into the nearby graveyard and forcing them to empty their pockets of cash and mobile phones.

The next day, he followed a boy on to a bus in Stockbridge and then continued to tail him and a friend when they got off, before escorting them to a cash machine and forcing them to withdraw money.

One of them - a 16-year-old epileptic - has suffered an increased number of seizures since the attack and has been hospitalised.

On October 1, Haughian approached two 16-year-olds in a McDonalds restaurant and said: "Give me all your stuff or I'll stab you. I've done it before." He took them to an ATM and demanded one withdraw GBP 40 from his account.

Yesterday his lawyer told the court that Haughian, who admitted the robberies, had been desperate at the time as he had been "living rough".

Judge Lord Woolman jailed him for a total of six years - including 12 months from his previous sentence. He also ordered that he be supervised for four years on his release. The judge described the offences as a "criminal spree".

Ronnie Renucci, defending, said Haughian's previous offences had been to fund a drug habit, but drugs were not a factor on these occasions.

In sentencing, Lord Woolman said Haughian, of Kirkliston, Edinburgh, had been classed as a "very high risk" of re-offending.

He added: "This must have been terrifying and traumatic for the victims."