Locations
Gorebridge, Midlothian, EH23
Description
A Scots rapist ran off into the dark leaving his female victim "crying" from the depraved ordeal following a night at the pub.
On Friday, Kieran Cole, 20, was sentenced to four years behind bars after being convicted of rape last month. The horrific encounter took place in Bonnyrigg's Waverley Park after the Midlothian man spent the night with others at a nearby pub.
Cole, who was 18 at the time, raped his victim before running off into the dark as she was left crying. A nearby homeowner came to her aid and helped her home as Cole returned to a friend's house.
He then went home to his flat in Gorebridge in the company of another female as Lord Summers said Cole was "oblivious" to the gravity of his behaviour.
Following a trial, Cole was found guilty by a jury and a custodial sentence of four years was imposed.
He was also placed on the sex offender's register and given a non-harassment order for an indefinite period.
Lord Summers said: "Mr Goddard KC relied on evidence the jury heard at trial relating to the victim’s level of inebriation and capacity to consent.
"He submitted that evidence thar showed she could communicate with him and impart information relative to a number of matters was relevant to the level of sentence.
"I took the view that this information went to the question of consent and did not have any relevance to sentence save that it demonstrated that aggravating factors that might otherwise have been present were absent.
"After the rape Mr Cole ran off into the dark and left the victim alone in the Park. She was heard crying by a householder who came to her aid and assisted her home. I took the view that this conduct demonstrated a callous lack of concern for the victim.
"Mr Cole meanwhile returned to a friend’s house and in the company of another female returned to his flat in Gorebridge. His conduct showed he was oblivious to the gravity of his behaviour."
In mitigation Mr Goddward KC noted his client had no previous convictions as an extended sentence was not pronounced.