Rapist sentenced to over 5 years in prison at High Court in Inverness

RAPIST SENTENCED TO OVER 5 YEARS IN PRISON AT HIGH COURT IN INVERNESS

A rapist has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison at the High Court in Inverness.

Matthew Mackenzie (40), of Union Street, Inverness admitted raping a woman at an address in the city on November 9, 2022.

Judge Michael O’Grady heard that Mackenzie had been giving the woman a massage, and she had explicitly told him she did not want any sexual activity.

When police interviewed Mackenzie, he told them: “I got excited and tried to have sex with her.

She said ‘no’.

I tried to give her a kiss and a hug and the tip went in.” He was advised by police officers that this was rape.

Advocate depute Robert Weir said: “He began to cry and accepted that he had raped the complainer.” Defending, Shahid Latif explained that Mackenzie had vulnerabilities and had not been aware of the extent of the crime at the time of the incident.

He said: “He has come to understand that it was without consent, whether it was reckless or intentional.

He has expressed disgust with his behaviour and did not realise what his actions amounted to.

He accepts he has forfeited his liberty.” Judge O’Grady placed Mackenzie on the Sex Offenders’ Register alongside the custodial sentence.

He said: “Whatever the circumstances, rape is a very grave crime.”