A former henchman who hunted down two teenagers and raped one of them has been jailed for seven years.

Adam Wood, 34, began abusing victims in the Scottish Borders when he was still a teenager before committing the rape at a home in Selkirk.

A judge told Wood at the High Court in Edinburgh: “A jury has convicted you of three sexual offenses against young girls. I have to respect that verdict.”

John Morris KC told him: “Only a substantial custodial sentence is appropriate.”

The judge said he took into account that Wood was “quite a young man” at the time of the offence, was treating him as a first offender and was assessed as low risk.

Wood, from Selkirk, had denied a number of charges at an earlier trial but was found guilty of three offences.

The first happened at an address in Hawick on one occasion in 2008 and involved a 14-year-old girl.

The second girl was subjected to indecent behavior by Wood at addresses in Hawick and Selkirk before he assaulted and raped her on one occasion in July 2013.

Defense lawyer Jonathan Crowe said Wood was 18 at the time of the first offense and 23 when the last occurred.

He said Wood has four daughters and a very supportive family. He told the court: “He has a very close bond with his children.”

Mr Crowe said Wood had “a strong work ethic” and was employed as a gardener before later becoming a self-employed worker in the local community.

But he said he had health problems and his partner was now acting as his carer and he was prescribed anti-depressants.

Wood was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and the judge made non-harassment orders banning him from contacting or attempting to contact the victims indefinitely.

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