John Dodd, 41, has been jailed for 13 years after being found guilty of serious sexual and violent offences carried out across the Highlands.

He was convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh after offences against two women spanning nearly two decades.

The crimes took place between 2004 and 2022 in Alness, Inverness and Clashmore near Dornoch.

What emerged in court was a pattern of abuse that stretched over years, leaving lasting impact on those involved.

He was found guilty of offences including rape, assault and abduction, before being sentenced this week.

Detective Inspector Gordon Patullo said:

“John Dodd’s actions were abhorrent and he will now have to face the consequences in prison.

“I hope his conviction helps the women involved to continue to move forward with their lives.

“Police Scotland takes reports of sexual crime very seriously and I would encourage anyone who has experienced abuse to contact us.

“You will be listened to and supported.

“We take all reports seriously.”

For the women at the centre of the case, the sentence brings a form of closure after years of harm.

Cases like this are often hidden in plain sight, unfolding over time and behind closed doors.

They serve as a stark reminder that abuse does not always come in a single moment, but can take hold over years.

And when it is finally brought into the open, it takes courage to see it through.