‘Every parent’s worst nightmare’: Paedophile dressed as woman to abduct girl before sexually abusing her
Butcher Andrew Miller was dressed as a woman as he committed ‘uniquely appalling’ abuse over 27 hours, Edinburgh High Court heard
A “wicked and predatory” paedophile who abducted a young girl as she walked home and repeatedly sexually abused her for 27 hours has been jailed.
Andrew Miller, who also uses the name Amy George, was dressed as a woman when he offered the primary school-aged child – whom he had never seen before – a lift in February, in the Scottish Borders.
Miller, now 53, took the 11-year-old girl back to his house and subjected her to repeated attacks, during an ordeal a judge described as “every parent’s worst nightmare”.
The paedophile was sentenced to 20 years at the High Court in Edinburgh on Wednesday. Miller pleaded guilty in May to charges of abduction; sexual assault; watching pornography in the presence of the child under the age of 13 and possessing 242 indecent images of children.
Sentencing Miller, Judge Lord Arthurson described his crimes as “brazen and chilling” and “uniquely appalling”. He said: “The narrative was frankly nauseating in its level of depravity and criminal deviance.”
The judge also described Miller’s presentation as a woman as a “significantly aggravating feature”. He said: “One only has to ask oneself the simple question: would an 11-year-old girl have willingly entered your car had you presented as a man? The answer is that obviously, she would not. Your intentions were wicked and predatory, and clearly involved a substantial component of planning.”
Miller, a butcher, was transitioning into a woman, the court heard. However, he has been held in the male prison estate following a row over the jailing of transgender rapist Isla Bryson, who was sent to a female prison in February.
The court heard Miller claimed he offered the girl a lift “because she was freezing”, and said forcing her to sleep in the bed with him “was a motherly thing”.
But instead of taking the child to her home, Miller took her to his home, where he subjected her to acts of sexual assault in his bedroom. He also made the girl watch pornography.
For the time the child was confined at the property, Miller was dressed as a woman, wearing a bra and women’s underwear, the court heard.
The following evening, Miller fell asleep in the bed next to the child. She tried to escape as he slept but found the door was locked. The girl found a landline phone and called the police, saying she had been touched inappropriately, the court heard.
During interview, Miller told detectives he did not abduct the girl and that it was “all a mistake”.
Following his arrest, three laptops were seized from his property and a total of 242 indecent images of children were found, most of which were of the lowest category. His internet history was also accessed, showing his searches for indecent images.
Miller was sentenced to a 28-year extended sentence, with 20 years to be spent behind bars and a further eight spent on licence under supervision in the community. He was also placed on the sex offenders register.
After being sentenced, he was led down from the dock with his head bowed.
Defending Miller, Victoria Dow told the court he had gone through “significant periods” of his life without harming anyone.
Ms Dow said: “He [Miller] recognises and feels the horror of his conduct. He feels a deep sense of shame, but not only for himself, but those in his life who will feel the impact.”
Detective Chief Inspector Bryan Burns said: “Our thoughts today are with the victim and her family who have shown incredible courage and strength throughout this ordeal. This was a significant investigation and I would like to thank all those involved for their professionalism and commitment during what was an extremely challenging inquiry. Andrew Miller has pled guilty to serious offending and will now face the consequences of his actions.”