ALEXANDRU TECLA SENTENCED IN HAWICK FOR RAPE IN SCOTTISH BORDERS

A man identified as Alexandru Tecla has been sentenced to over two years in prison following a serious sexual assault incident that took place in Hawick, located within the Scottish Borders. The case garnered significant attention as it involved a brutal attack on a woman whom Tecla had only recently met.

According to court records, the 22-year-old Romanian national was invited to a residence in Hawick by a 31-year-old woman, where the assault occurred. The incident took place in October 2019, a few days after Tecla's arrival in Scotland for employment purposes. Despite denying the charges, Tecla was found guilty after a thorough trial process at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The court sentenced Tecla to 26 months of imprisonment and also ordered him to be registered on the sex offenders register for a period of ten years. The judge, Lady Poole, took into account Tecla’s age when determining the sentence, emphasizing the importance of considering his youth in the context of the crime.

During the proceedings, defence counsel Victoria Dow highlighted that Tecla maintained his innocence and believed at the time of the incident that the woman had consented to the sexual activity. The court also acquitted Tecla of a separate charge involving a different woman, which alleged that he assaulted another woman at a different address in Hawick in January 2020.

Overall, the case underscores the serious legal consequences faced by individuals convicted of sexual offenses in Scotland, and it highlights the ongoing efforts of the justice system to address and penalize such crimes within the community of Hawick and the broader Scottish Borders region.