A former police officer has been jailed for seven years for drugging and raping one woman and abusing another. Derek McNee, 42, from Glasgow, admitted the offending, which began in 2021.
The Crown Office said McNee admitted raping one of his victims on multiple occasions after giving her drugs that rendered her unconscious. His behaviour came to light when police found videos on his phone showing him performing sex acts on his victim.
Sentencing at the High Court
Sentencing McNee at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday, judge Lord Young told him the victim had been “incapable of giving consent” due to her intoxicated condition. McNee also admitted engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards a second woman over a five-year period. He pleaded guilty to possession of an electronic stun gun, described as an “ultra-high voltage” device, hidden in his car.
McNee left Police Scotland in 2016 and became a dog groomer, running a busy pet salon in Paisley, Renfrewshire. He pleaded guilty to the offences at the High Court in Glasgow in September.
Additional Measures and Victim Impact
At the same court on Monday, McNee was sentenced to seven years in jail plus an additional monitoring period of 18 months. Judge Young also added him to the sex offenders register indefinitely and made him subject to non-harassment orders.
In his sentencing remarks, published online, the judge said: “This criminal behaviour came to light when the police seized your mobile phone in connection with other matters. Police found four of these videos on your phone. The acts that are shown in the videos and narrated in the charge amount to rape and to sexual assault.”
Referring to victim impact statements, the judge said the woman McNee drugged and raped described “her misery at the time of these events” and “severe psychological and practical consequences” that continue to affect her life. Of the other victim, he noted effects including “loss of self confidence, fear, anger and helplessness” and that she “remains hypervigilant and anxious.”
Prosecutor's Statement
Procurator fiscal Faye Cook, of the Crown Office of Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “Derek McNee subjected two women to serious abuse and exploitation. He used drugs to facilitate the rape of one woman, rendering her incapable of consenting to sexual activity. He also subjected another woman to controlling, abusive and degrading behaviour. These offences had a profound impact on both victims, who should have been safe in his company. His conviction reflects the courage of the women who felt able to report their experiences, enabling prosecutors to seek justice on their behalf. COPFS is committed to listening and responding to such reports and holding perpetrators to account. Prosecuting offenders such as McNee helps make Scotland a safer place for all.”
