Skip to content

What is stealthing? Rapist jailed in Scotland's first conviction

A rapist has been jailed in Scotland's first ever "stealthing" conviction.

But what exactly is it? The BBC's Pippa Ligertwood explains.

3 days ago

Explore More

BBC weather presenter Gillian Smart in front of a weather map of the UK.

Watch the Christmas weather forecast for Scotland

Man dressed in Santa Grinch costume being arrested by police officer in black cap and yellow hi-viz jacket.

Watch Grinch get 'arrested' after nursery break-in

Glasgow & West Scotland

Street scene with double decker bus with its roof torn off.

Bus roofless after driving through rail bridge tunnel

Glasgow & West Scotland

BBC reporter Hope Webb, wearing a blue jacket and cream-coloured scarf, stands next to police inspector Hugh Niccolls, who is wearing a green fluroescent police vest. They are both standing next to a large, grey e-bike which resembles a dirt bike parked in front of a warehouse entrance.

'We see illegal e-bikes going 40mph on pavements'

Glasgow & West Scotland

Anas Sarwar stood in the lobby of the Scottish Parliament with blurred lights behind him.

Sarwar says Labour got Waspi payout decision wrong

Scotland Politics

A police officer in a high-vis vest wields a baton at football fans running past shoppers on Glasgow's Argyle Street. A woman with long brown hair and shopping bags looks on. Football fans can be seen running past in the background.

Fearful shoppers run to avoid charging football fans

Glasgow & West Scotland

A 16ft knitted Christmas tree. The trunk of the tree is made of wood with wooden pegs sticking out from it. Knitted squares in colours of green are attached to look like branches. Other knitted decorations like stockings and baubles are attached.

The 16ft knitted Christmas tree aiming to tackle loneliness

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Rufio the horse running past a red car on Prestonpans High Street. He is brown and has a black race banner with a white number seven over his back.

Watch a racehorse running free down a Scottish high street

Ava looks at the camera, while using safety harnesses as she dangles from a climbing wall covered in multi-coloured climbing holds

Record-breaking teen speed climber aims for Olympics

Anas Sarwar in The Sunday Show studio, wearing a a white shirt, dark blue jumper and jacket

Anas Sarwar responds to council leader allegations

Yellow warnings for wind and rain are also in place across much of Scotland throughout the weekend

Storm Darragh brings travel disruption to Scotland

Central, southern and eastern Scotland is covered by yellow warnings for rain and wind until Sunday

Storm Darragh evening forecast with Judith Ralston

A two-storey house brightly illuminated in multi-coloured Christmas lights. There are small light up Christmas trees, light up candy canes, pink light up angels wings around the garden.

The house with the 24,000 light Christmas display

Edinburgh, Fife & East

The BBC's Kirsten Campbell stands in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament.

What’s in the Scottish Budget… in 85 seconds

Scotland Politics

Shona Robison stands to deliver the Scottish Budget in the Scottish Parliament, her light-coloured hair is tied in a pony tail and she is wearing a black dress

Be in no doubt, the cap will be scrapped - Robison

Scotland Politics

Jasleen Kaur's piece features a vintage orange Ford Escort covered by a white doily.

I didn't have cultural access to Turner Prize - Sikh winner

Glasgow & West Scotland

Dr Peter Mackay in a light shirt and tweed jacket, leaning on a pillar of the Central Library in Edinburgh. He is looking at the camera

First Gaelic poet appointed Scotland's Makar

Police officer in black protective suit and helmet stands in a dooraway, lit by orange glow, side-on to camera.

Moment police force entry to house in drugs raid

Glasgow & West Scotland

Two orca swimming alongside a harbour edge in grey waves

Watch a very close encounter with orcas in Lerwick

NE, Orkney & Shetland

The Scottish comedian died on 2 November at the age of 63

Colourful funeral held for Janey Godley in Glasgow

Glasgow & West Scotland

For two weeks Scottish football fans partied with the locals in Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart

Tartan Army boost tourism in Scotland after Euros

For two weeks Scottish football fans partied with the locals in Munich, Cologne, Stuttgart

Order of Service for the memorial service to Alex Salmond, with a photo of him in a suit.

Alex Salmond remembered at St Giles' memorial

Former First Minister Alex Salmond has been remembered at a memorial in Edinburgh where he was hailed as a "political genius".

A composite image of a police vehicle on Skye and BBC reporter Iain Macinnes

Isle of Skye murder case: How did the attacks unfold?

Finlay MacDonald murdered his brother-in-law and seriously injured three others in knife and shotgun attacks.

BBC Scotland weather presenter Christopher Blanchett in front of a weather map of Scotland showing snow warnings.

Watch the Storm Bert weather forecast for Scotland

Storm Bert looks set to bring more heavy snowfall across the Scotland over the weekend.

BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell lying on the ground with a blue beanie hat and wrapped in a silver blanket

‘I wanted to show what having a seizure was like’

BBC Scotland's political editor Glenn Campbell has been describing his journey since being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour.

Weather presenter Christopher Blanchett standing in front of a large-scale photograph of wintry conditions

Weather forecast: First taste of winter in Scotland

Arctic air has been working its way in from the north, bringing cold temperatures that for the coming days.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

Flynn: Reaction to 2026 Holyrood bid 'not pleasant'

The SNP Westminster leader will stand for the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat

Veterans during Edinburgh's Armistice Day event. One of them is saluting while the other have heads bowed while holding flags downward.

Watch: Armistice Day tributes take place across Scotland

The traditional 11 November two-minute period of remembrance took place at 11:00 across the country.

Three rescuers wearing life jackets and hard hats work to free a humpback whale in a sea loch

Humpback whale tangled in creel lines set free

Experts used underwater cameras to work out how the whale was trapped, before untangling it in Loch Fyne.

Sandy Duthie from Aberdeenshire is now the lighthouse keeper on Gabo Island, in Victoria

The Scot in charge of an Australian lighthouse

Sandy Duthie from Aberdeenshire is now the lighthouse keeper on Gabo Island, in Victoria

Police stand next to a blue trawler vessel moored in a harbour

Watch: Police target fishing boat over 'modern slavery' claim

A 38-year-old man was arrested and two Ghanaian men were removed from the vessel as part of the operation.

Firework explodes on the top or a building behind a traffic island sending red and yellow sparks showering metres in all directions.

Watch: Fireworks set off on Scottish streets on Bonfire Night

Fire crews have been attacked as fireworks were set off on streets across Scotland on Bonfire Night.

Gloved hand picking up one of five Lewis chessmen. Two are facing the camera and three away from the camera.

See a brand new view of the Lewis chessmen

Ten of the intricately-carved pieces have been redisplayed in a case which allows visitors to see their backs for the first time.

The Jacobite Express steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Scottish Highlands

Repairing Scotland's historic 'Harry Potter' bridge

Engineers have been working day and night on the Glenfinnan Viaduct as part of a £3.4m restoration project.

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, wearing a blue top and black coat, stands beside Alex Salmond, wearing a blue shirt and dark jacket

Salmond death was shock to all in North Macedonia - Ahmed-Sheikh

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh says people in North Macedonia wanted to pay tribute to Alex Salmond.

Waves can be seen overtopping the barrier at Troon. The sky is grey and sea mist is being blown high by the wind.

Watch: Stormy waters and high winds as storm hits Scotland

Storm Ashley could cause gusts of up to 70-80 mph (113-129km/h) in some areas of Scotland.

Gillian Smart wears a red and black dress. She presents the weather in front of a green screen which forecasts high winds across Scotland.

The latest weather forecast as Storm Ashley hits Scotland

Gillian Smart has the latest weather forecast, as a yellow warning for high winds gusting up to 60 mph (97km/h) is in force across the whole of Scotland.

North Macedonian soldiers carrying Alex Salmond's coffin draped in a Saltire towards a private jet

Alex Salmond’s coffin flown home to Scotland

A plane carrying Alex Salmond's body has left North Macedonia and is being flown back to Scotland.

Black and white horse sticking its head out of a barn door while a police officer feeds it

Watch: Training police horses to help deal with public disorder

The BBC has been given an exclusive insight into the training of police horses when it comes to dealing with public order.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, wears a blue suit and glasses, as he stands in the House of Commons. Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves sit either side of him on the benches.

Salmond was a monumental figure in politics - Starmer

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pays tribute to the 'lasting legacy' of Alex Salmond.