Former soldier jailed over historic sexual abuse

A former soldier has been sentenced to 13 years in jail for historic sexual offences committed throughout Argyll and Bute.

Malcolm Sloss, 72, was found guilty of 10 charges including raping two women and one girl between 1988 and 2021 in his hometown of Oban.

Sloss, who also built his own properties and is a horse farrier was branded a "sexual predator" at his conviction at the High Court in Glasgow in November last year.

He denied forcing himself on his victims, including a teenage girl who had an interest in horses.

Sloss claimed any sexual contact had been consensual, despite the 40-year age gap.

He claimed another victim had been "flirty" with him when he was helping fit a wood-burning stove at her home.

KC Murray Macara told Sloss the woman "repeatedly described you as persistent" and "you were determined to persuade her to do what you wanted".

Sloss claimed the victim was not a "shrinking violet", adding: "If she did not want sex, I would have known."

He later raped another woman, who was vulnerable due to personal issues, after parking his car near a recycling centre.

He denied attacking her, insisting it was a "mutual idea" they had sex that night.

He also refuted claims he had attacked the girl during a car journey to England.

Sloss said: "No-one but a madman would try that at 70mph down a motorway."

Jurors heard Sloss also molested another young girl and made inappropriate comments to her.

Prosecutor Lorraine Glancy KC later put to Sloss that, on his account, the teenage girl he raped must be "delusional".

He replied: "No, that is what you are saying. Some people do not tell the truth because they are delusional, but I am not saying she is.

"I had a moment of madness with her. As far as sex with her was not consensual, that is a lie."

Det Insp Peter MacMillan said: "Sloss preyed on vulnerable females for a number of years and subjected his victims to horrific sexual assaults. He will now face the consequences of his actions.

"Police Scotland takes all reports of violence and sexual crime extremely seriously. We have specialist officers to listen and support those who have experienced this kind of crime.

"I would urge anyone who has experienced sexual abuse to please come forward and make a report to us, no matter the passage of time."