Hayley Watkins Campaigns for Public Sex Offender Register After Childhood Friend's Rape Conviction

Hayley Watkins, 24, is campaigning for the sex offenders register to be made public in Scotland, following her rape by a childhood friend, Jordan Learmonth. She has waived her anonymity to highlight what she perceives as a lack of transparency within the current system and to encourage other victims of sexual assault to report their experiences.

Watkins was raped by Learmonth, then 19, at his home in Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway, in February 2020. Learmonth was subsequently convicted at the High Court in Stirling in August 2022 for rape and assault, receiving a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence. He was released in February 2026 and remains on the sex offenders register for life.

Despite the conviction, there has been minimal media reporting or publicly accessible information about Learmonth’s crime. Watkins asserts that this opacity means the public must rely on rumour to learn of serious sexual convictions. She advocates for a consistent, government-provided database, noting that while a scheme exists for disclosing information about registered child sex offenders, no similar provision is available for adult sex offenders in Scotland.

Watkins recounts waking to Learmonth assaulting her. She immediately confronted him via text message, which he denied. This message, coupled with DNA evidence, was crucial in securing his conviction. She commended the support received from her GP and police, which facilitated her decision to pursue legal action.

Hayley Watkins has submitted a petition to the UK parliament, calling for enhanced public awareness and transparency regarding sexual offender risk in Scotland. The petition highlights that existing systems for managing offenders are not adequately publicised, leaving communities without clear means to recognise risk or protect themselves. She aims to collaborate with Scottish ministers to implement policy changes, potentially drawing inspiration from US models of searchable sex offender databases.

The Scottish government stated that public safety is paramount in managing registered sex offenders, emphasising robust multi-agency public protection arrangements and strict notification requirements. Watkins hopes her advocacy will empower other victims and contribute to safer communities.