EDINBURGH MAN JAILED FOR RAPE OF SLEEPING WOMAN
A man named Richard Smith, aged 27 from Edinburgh, was sentenced to six years in prison for raping a sleeping woman after he climbed into her bed in an Edinburgh flat.The incident occurred on 2 August 2014 in Dalry following a night out.
Smith had denied the rape charge but was found guilty at a previous trial in Glasgow.
During the trial, it was revealed that Smith was part of a group returning to the flat after a night at the Lulu club, where he worked as a barman.
He continued drinking and was demonstrating magic tricks before going to a bedroom where the 30-year-old woman was sleeping.
Witnesses described hearing 'screaming and shouting,' with one witness recounting how the woman was 'battering him with an ironing board.' The victim was hysterical, shouting to 'get out,' and Smith appeared 'quite chilled' and returned to bed.
Police had to wake him after arriving at the scene.
Smith insisted he maintained his innocence and was a young professional with no prior trouble with the law.
The judge stated that imprisonment was necessary, saying, 'It would be wholly wrong for me even to contemplate not imprisoning you for a significant period for the crime of rape.' Smith was also placed on the sex offenders’ register.
