Man raped woman, 61, after breaking in to her home

A man who raped a 61-year-old woman after forcing his way into her home has been jailed for 10 years.

Bradley Shand, 23, was last month found guilty of attacking the woman in the Murrayfield area of Edinburgh.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard he kicked in the victim's French door while she was watching TV on 9 January 2023.

Lord Summers said: "You subjected her to a violent rape and caused her injury. Your conduct was absolutely disgraceful."

The court heard Shand threw the victim around like a "rag doll".

The judge added: "It is difficult to imagine what she must have gone through."

Lord Summers ordered that Shand, who was aged 20 at the time, should be under supervision for a further two-year period when he is released.

His name has also been added to the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The court heard the woman was home alone when she heard a banging noise and went to investigate.

She then discovered Shand smashing the door to her home.

Seconds later he pulled her into the lounge and pushed her over the edge of a sofa.

Afterwards the distressed victim went to the home of a neighbour with blood on her face and dressing gown.

The neighbour recalled: "She was obviously upset, shaken, questioning herself: 'What did I do?'".

Meanwhile, Shand went to the home of a couple in Corstorphine where he demanded car keys after throwing a boulder and stone garden ornament.

He admitted attempting to rob them of a set of keys and a car.

The court was told he was drunk at the time and said he had no recollection of what happened.

Defence counsel Victoria Dow said: "He has indicated shame and embarrassment in relation to his conduct."

Lord Summers made an order prohibiting Shand from contacting or attempting to contact the woman for 15 years.

Katrina Parkes, procurator fiscal for high court sexual offences, said: "Bradley Shand is a sexual predator, who preyed on this victim in her own home.

"She should have been completely safe but was instead subjected to a horrific ordeal by a violent stranger.

"This is a truly horrendous case, and my thoughts remain with the victim and her loved ones."

Det Insp Mark McGraw called Shand a "violent, dangerous individual" who showed "no regard for the people's lives that he affected".

He added: "I'd like to commend the woman on the strength she's shown throughout the process of reporting this horrendous crime and the legal proceedings."