Hayley Watkins Seeks Public Sex Offender Register in Scotland After Rapist's 2026 Release
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 29
Hayley Watkins Seeks Public Sex Offender Register in Scotland After Rapist's 2026 Release
1 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 29
24-year-old Hayley Watkins waived her anonymity and petitioned the UK parliament for a searchable public sex offender database in Scotland after the man convicted of raping her was released in February 2026.
Jordan Learmonth, now on the sex offenders register for life, served 3½ years for rape and assault, but Watkins said his 2022 High Court conviction was not reported and is barely traceable online.
Scotland currently lets people ask police only about registered child sex offenders under a disclosure scheme, with no equivalent route for adult sex offenders.
Watkins said the lack of accessible information leaves communities relying on rumor, while her public campaign also aims to encourage rape victims to report attacks and seek support.
The Scottish government said registered sex offenders are managed through multi-agency public protection arrangements, with notification breaches punishable by up to five years in prison.
Beyond public shaming, what methods are proven to stop convicted rapists from reoffending after their release?
Do public sex offender lists actually increase safety or just create a permanent, unemployable criminal underclass?