‘I was raped by a childhood friend

A woman who was raped by her childhood friend has called for the sex offenders register to be made public amid fears it could overturn her rapist’s conviction.

Hayley Watkins, 24, waived her anonymity to raise awareness of what she believes is a lack of transparency in the current system.

She also wants to share her experience to encourage other rape victims to report their attacks.

Hayley was raped by 19-year-old Jordan Learmonth at her home in Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway in February 2020.

He was released from prison in February 2026 after serving three and a half years for rape and assault. He will remain on the sex offenders register for life.

However, his conviction at Stirling High Court was not reported in the media and there is little information about it online.

Hayley believes other people should be aware of her past.

“You can’t find it anywhere [Learmonth] “He was convicted of a serious sexual offense and I think people need to know that,” he said.

”People have to rely on rumors and gossip to get real information, and that doesn’t make sense to me.”

He added: ”It shouldn’t be the media’s responsibility to report on all these cases. There should only be a consistent database provided by the government.”

Currently, people can ask the police if someone is a registered child sex offender to ensure the safety of a child. sex offender community disclosure plan.

However, there is no similar program for adult sex offenders in Scotland.

Hayley had been friends with Learmonth since childhood and they regularly spent time around each other.

They were both 19 when he attacked her in her home.

“We went back to his house, continued drinking, turned on the TV and it was late, so I fell asleep,” he said.

“I actually woke him up while he was wearing me, and that’s when I knew I had to get out.”

Hayley walked home and texted Learmonth, asking why he raped her while she was asleep.

”He just denied it, said he wasn’t near me and nothing happened,” he said.

“This was later used in court because DNA evidence established that the incident had occurred, which helped convict him,” he said.

‘Betrayal of trust’

Hayley went to her doctor’s office the morning after the attack. He praised the support shown by the doctors and police officers who dealt with his case.

“My doctor was very supportive, patient with me, and that positive experience led me to tell my family and then go to the station and tell the police,” she said.

“I never felt like they didn’t believe me, they were very professional but also patient and empathetic to the crime being committed and not once did I feel judged,” he added.

Learmonth was convicted in August 2022 after the trial was postponed due to Covid restrictions.

”It was a really long day when the jury came out. “The unanimous verdict of guilty came back and that was an incredible relief,” Watkins said.

But he said he had mixed emotions when he was sentenced at the High Court in Stirling.

”Jordan was my friend. It was hard to deal with the betrayal of trust that my friend could violate me like that. “There was still a part of me that felt like he was my friend.”

Hayley, a business owner in Dumfries, now wants Scotland to adopt a searchable, open database for sex offenders. System used to identify sex offenders in the United States.

He has submitted a petition to the UK parliament calling for improved public awareness and transparency about the risk of sexual crime in Scotland.

“Although systems exist to manage sexual offenders in Scotland, public awareness of these systems is low and information is often reactive rather than accessible,” the petition states.

“This leaves individuals and communities uncertain about how to recognize risk or take steps to protect themselves,” he adds.

He said he was willing to work with Scottish ministers to make changes to policies in Scotland.

The Scottish government said: “Public safety is crucial in managing registered sex offenders to minimize potential risks and keep communities safe.

”Offenders are governed under robust multi-agency public protection regulations, with strict reporting requirements and penalties for breaches of up to five years’ imprisonment.”

‘Life is getting better’

Hayley said she hoped her story would encourage others in similar situations to report their attacks.

“I immediately contacted Rape Crisis in Dumfries because I knew I would need support,” she said.

”There are people trained to support individuals who have been subjected to such a crime.

“I always had someone I could call, meet with, and work through my anxieties, and that was crucial to my recovery journey.”

Hayley said she was still traumatized by her attack but was determined to make communities safer.

”I learned that the effects of crime never go away. This is something I will constantly struggle with, but I remind myself that it gets easier.

”Life is good, life is bright and no matter what happens to me, there is so much good in life and it really does get better,” he said.

BBC Scotland News contacted Learmonth but he did not respond.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, you can find information and support at: BBC’s Action Line.