A man who raped a woman in Aberdeen city centre has been jailed for 10 years.
Alasdair McDonald, 49, attacked his 21-year-old victim at Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens on January 28, 2016.
McDonald had admitted sexually assaulting the woman, but denied that he had raped her.
At the High Court in Edinburgh today, judge Lord Arthurson said: “It is plain to me that your crime, which upon your conviction I described to you as abhorrent, has had a profound and traumatic impact upon your victim.
“As she has expressed matters herself: ‘The crime has scared me to my very core – I think about what happened that night every single day and the individual who did this to me has left me with an overwhelming feeling of sadness and emptiness.’
During proceedings at the High Court in Glasgow last month, the court heard that during the rape McDonald ripped the crotch area off his victim’s underwear.
Police found the clothing item just a few yards away. Forensic scientists discovered McDonald’s DNA on the item.
A forensic expert told the jury that it would have needed excessive force to rip the fabric.
Today, Lord Arthurson said he had no other option but to impose an extended sentence on McDonald.
He added: “I have concluded without difficulty that you represent a high risk of causing serious sexual harm from which it is necessary to protect the public.
“In my view, the normal period of licence, would not be sufficient to protect the public from the risk which you resent on your release from custody.”
In addition to the 10-year custodial term, Lord Arthurson also imposed a supervised period of three years.