Psychologist Rated Child Abuse Ring Member as ‘Medium Risk’ in Court

Glasgow: A leading forensic psychologist recently told a court that Iain Owens, a man convicted of being part of a child abuse ring, should be considered a “medium risk.” This was a big deal because it went against a previous assessment that labeled him as “high risk” and a psychopathic sadist.

Owens was found guilty in 2023 for his role in a horrific case involving three children in a Glasgow drugs den. The trial even included wild claims about Satanic rituals and dog killings, though those allegations were eventually dropped. He faces sentencing for 18 serious charges, including gang rape and attempted murder, alongside six other co-defendants.

The psychologist, Dr. Peter Pratt, traveled from the Midlands to meet Owens multiple times. He expressed concerns about how the Risk Management Authority handled Owens’ case. Dr. Pratt has a wealth of experience, having assessed thousands of sex offenders over his 50-year career. He noted that Owens seemed eager to engage during their meetings and didn’t come off as manipulative.

In his report, Dr. Pratt pointed out that Owens claimed to have only had two sexual relationships and denied using pornography. However, he also highlighted the severity of Owens’ crimes, emphasizing that he had forced a child to abuse another child. The report painted a picture of a man whose main stress seemed to come from funding his drug habit, as he had been using significant amounts of heroin daily.

Dr. Pratt disagreed with the earlier assessment that labeled Owens as a psychopath, stating that he hadn’t shown psychopathic behavior while in custody. The court proceedings are ongoing, and the judge will continue to hear evidence regarding Owens’ risk level and the nature of his crimes.