'Calculating and violent' Dundee rapist convicted

Alexander Steven will be sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow in October

A "calculating and violent sexual predator" who raped four women at knifepoint and sexually assaulted another in Dundee has been convicted following a trial.

Alexander Steven attacked the victims in flats in the city over the course of two years.

The 52-year-old had denied the charges, claiming that his victims were taking part in role plays with him.

Steven, who was found guilty by a jury, was warned he faces a lengthy jail term when he returns to court for sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow on 8 October.

Steven was found guilty of five rapes and a further two charges of sexual assault with intent to rape.

The High Court in Edinburgh was told that the offences took place between October 2020 and October 2022.

Judge Norman McFadyen told Steven that he had conducted "an appalling campaign of sexual violence" against vulnerable women.

During Steven's trial the jury was shown a video shot by him on a mobile phone of an exposed woman who was tied to a bed while being sexually assaulted.

Steven's first victim told the court she had come to Scotland after breaking up with a boyfriend in London and moved into a flat in Dundee.

She answered a knock at the door and a male intruder came in and shut the door.

The woman, who spoke through a translator, said: "Then he showed me this knife with him and then he forced me into this room."

The woman subsequently escaped through a window.

Steven was convicted of forcing his way into the flat in 2020 and assaulting the woman with intent to rape her.

Steven carried out his first rape two months later when he attacked a woman in the Lochee area of the city

The following year he raped the woman again when she was again subjected to an attack with a knife held at her neck.

In August 2021 Steven attacked and raped a third woman at a flat in the city after a knife was put to her throat.

'I don't pay for sex'

A fourth woman was subjected to assaults and rape by Steven between March 2021 and October the following year.

During the abuse, knives were held to her throat and she was threatened with a screwdriver.

A fifth woman said Steven came to a flat in Hilltown in May 2022 and subjected her to an assault and rape.

She said when he arrived she told him he would have to pay her first, but he produced a knife and put it against her neck and told her: "I don't pay for sex".

She offered to give him money but he replied: "I don't want money. I want sex."

The woman said she was "very much afraid".

Steven told the court that at first he went to see sex workers for sex but then decided to "explore the idea of doing more".

He said he used Google Translate to communicate with the women and asked if they did role play and specifically if they did rape role play and told them they would not be hurt.

He said he believed he had the consent of all the women to what took place.

Advocate depute Leanne Cross said Steven had made appointments with women who were usually working on their own and were in a vulnerable position and went there with a knife that was put to their throats or necks.

First offender Steven was placed on the sex offenders' register and remanded in custody after the judge called for a background report to be prepared on him.

Following the conviction, Det Insp Craig Ross said: "Alexander Steven is a calculating and violent sexual predator who targeted a number of women over a two-year period.

"His behaviour was appalling and he will now face the consequences of his actions.

"The fact that he has been convicted today is a tremendous credit to the women who came forward to police.

"I hope this conviction gives confidence to others who may have experienced anything similar to come forward, safe in the knowledge that we will thoroughly investigate."