An Edinburgh Rapist, Bradley Shand, who forced entry into a residence and subjected a 61-year-old woman to a harrowing sexual assault has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Bradley Shand’s assault on the victim prompted her to enquire, “What did I do?” What caused this to occur to me?
A judge informed Bradley Shand, 23, at the High Court in Edinburgh today: “You inflicted a violent rape upon her and caused her harm.”
Your behaviour was utterly reprehensible.
Lord Summers described it as “a particularly egregious offence” and remarked, “It is challenging to conceive of what she must have endured.”
The judge stated that he reviewed a victim impact statement, which indicated that Bradley Shand’s offence has had a “devastating effect” on the woman.
He indicated that after infiltrating the residence in Edinburgh, where the woman was isolated and subjected to a sexual assault, Shand proceeded to commit a further offence involving an attempted robbery.
Lord Summers mandated that Bradley Shand, then 20 years old, be subjected to an additional two years of supervision, during which he will be on community licence and may be reincarcerated for any violations of its conditions.
Bradley Shand was released under three bail orders at the time of the offences on January 9, 2023.
In a prior trial, he refuted allegations of raping the woman at a residence in the Murrayfield district of the city, although he was found guilty of the crime.
He persistently struck the glass door at her residence, shattering it, before entering the premises through the fractured entrance and seizing a phone from the woman.
He persistently solicited sexual acts from her, restrained her, forcibly positioned her head, thrust her to the ground, and subdued her during the assault.
The court was informed that the woman was watching television when she heard a thumping sound and proceeded to investigate. She discovered Bradley Shand forcefully breaking the door to her residence.
She stated that the intruder forcibly dragged her into the lounge and thereafter shoved her over the side of a sofa.
Her assailant undressed and perpetrated sexual assault on the woman.
Bradley Shand sustained injuries during the assault.
Subsequently, the aggrieved sufferer approached a neighbour’s residence, exhibiting blood on her face and wearing a dressing gown.
The neighbour stated: “She was clearly distressed, agitated, and introspective, pondering: ‘What did I do?'”
The victim stated, “He was tossing me around like a rag doll.” I no longer feel secure. I remain seated downstairs, and it evokes a multitude of recollections.
Following the sexual assault and rape, Bradley Shand visited the residence of a couple in Corstorphine that evening, when he hurled a boulder and a stone garden ornament, shattering a window after demanding car keys.
He confessed to attempting to steal a set of keys and an automobile.
The court was informed that Shand was inebriated throughout the commission of the offences and asserted that he has no recollection of the occurrences.
Defence attorney Victoria Dow stated, “He has expressed feelings of shame and embarrassment regarding his actions.”
Advocate depute Chris McKenna stated that the Crown requested the imposition of a non-harassment order against Shand following the rape offence, citing that the victim was “fearful” of him.
Lord Summers issued an injunction barring Shand from contacting or attempting to contact the woman for a duration of 15 years.
Bradley Shand was indefinitely registered as a sex offender.
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