Midlothian residents took to the streets to protest after the Da Vinci rapist Robert Greens was moved into house near a children’s playpark.
The 44-year-old, responsible for one of the most harrowing sex attacks in Scottish criminal history, has been given a home in the village of Danderhall, Midlothian, reports our sister title the Daily Record.
Neighbours gathered outside the mid-terrace new build in Neatoune Court on Monday night to vent their fury. Residents believe Greens may have been living at the upper floor address for around three months without being recognised.
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A man living at the property has been spotted a number of times, but always wore a face mask and a hoodie or baseball cap. It’s understood Greens was identified on Monday when a photo of him in the street was posted on Facebook.
The post was quickly deleted, but new alerts were added to social media and protesters soon gathered outside.
Cops were dispatched to the scene and several officers and Police Scotland vehicles remained stationed there on Tuesday night. The blinds were drawn and it was unclear if Greens was inside.
The beast was dubbed the Da Vinci rapist for his horrific attack in 2006 on a student near Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian, a key location in the book The Da Vinci Code. The 19-year-old suffered horrific injuries, which were initially thought to have come from a car smash.
A Danderhall mum-of-three, 37, said: “Neighbours have seen this man with a face mask on and hoodie up. They said he came across as creepy and weird, but they couldn’t see who he was. He keeps himself to himself, apparently, and often goes out at 9am and comes back at 9pm.”
The woman was among the protesters on Monday. She added: “There was about 60 people there. We just want the authorities to know we want him out. There’s a school near here. Kids play in the street. This is a quiet, close-knit community.”
It’s understood a young woman who lived at the address previously was rehoused in May, leaving it available for Greens to move in.
Another resident said: “I’ve only seen him once and didn’t get a good feeling. I saw his face but he had a beard and I didn’t recognise him. He’s never come to introduce himself. Nobody would see him. It was like he was hiding.”
Connor Finlayson, 30, said: “I saw the original post on Facebook and the photo was definitely Greens. When it was deleted, I posted the information back up. No one wants him here.”
Susan Forbes, 24, was among the protestors. She said: “They need to move him out. There’s too many kids round here.”
Scott Pearson, 23, who was also at the protest, said: “People will be back out to protest on Tuesday night.”
A Danderhall resident added: “I’ve seen him leave the house once or twice, but he always had a cap and mask on. He must’ve moved in around June or July. The council were seen bringing in a new cooker and washing machine. He’s never caused any bother, but I’m not happy about him being my neighbour.”
Greens was freed from prison in 2012, having served two-thirds of his sentence. The following year, he was returned to jail after he broke one of the conditions of his release by visiting the home town of his former wife. He was again released in 2017 but hauled back to prison after another breach..
It’s not the first time the prospect of Greens living in a local neighbourhood has prompted protests. In 2016, people in Pathhead, Midlothian, were outraged after learning the council were turning a family home into a fortress to house him. Greens raped the Dutch student in a horrific attack near Rosslyn Chapel in 2005.
At the High Court in Edinburgh in December 2005, Greens admitted dragging her along the ground, sitting on her, threatening her with a knife and asking if she was a virgin. He then repeatedly struck her on the face and raped her.
Greens denied the attack at first and tried to blame his twin brother. He eventually pled guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in April 2006.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Every single offender is assessed and managed in line with the risk they present.”
The spokeswoman added: “Police were made aware of a gathering outside a property in Neatoune Court, Danderhall, Midlothian, at around 8.45pm on Monday. Officers attended, gave advice and assistance and the group later dispersed. No arrests were made.”
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