Man jailed after stabbing and raping woman in flat

Rowan McKenna attacked the woman in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh

A man has been jailed for 10 and a half years after he repeatedly stabbed and raped a woman who refused to have sex with him.

Rowan McKenna attacked the woman in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh after he locked her in a flat.

The 25-year-old had recently been freed from prison on four separate bail orders by a court.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, McKenna was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and Lord Scott made a non-harassment order prohibiting him from contacting the rape victim.

Due to the serious charges as well as McKenna's criminal history and behaviour, the judge said he would impose an extended sentence.

After his prison sentence, McKenna will be under supervision for a further two-year period when he can be returned to prison if he breaches his license conditions.

The court heard how the attack had permanently scarred the woman who said it acted as a "daily reminder" of the rape.

McKenna was convicted of abducting the woman, detaining her against her will, stabbing her with a knife, threatening to kill her and raping her to her injury and permanent disfigurement in the attack on 27 July 2023.

He was also convicted of attacking another woman after she turned down his sexual advances on 7 March 2023 at a flat in the Leith area of the city.

The 25-year-old threatened to stab her and another woman at the Leith flat, spat on her face, pulled her to the ground and repeatedly kicked her head.

'Victim blaming'

Lord Scott said a social worker reported that both of McKenna's victims were vulnerable at the time of the attacks.

The judge said he had read a statement from the rape victim who had to give up her work in the aftermath of the attack in Gorgie.

He said: "She says she has never been so scared in her life."

The woman said she had spoken out in a bid to ensure no one else suffered at the hands of McKenna, who is currently imprisoned in Edinburgh.

Lord Scott said the offender had given an "almost entirely self-serving account of both incidents" to a social worker who was preparing a background report.

He said McKenna had made significant attempts at "victim blaming", adding: "You have shown no victim empathy."

He was convicted of the violent attacks at the High Court in Edinburgh

The court heard how McKenna had a lengthy criminal record which included violent crimes.

He committed the Leith attack in March 2023 while he was subject to a community payback order as an alternative to custody.

Defence solicitor advocate Iain McSporran KC said McKenna had clearly suffered adverse childhood experiences that impacted on his mental health and addiction issues.

However, Lord Scott said McKenna had carried out an escalating course of sexual offending and only a jail sentence was appropriate.

Det Sgt Craig Donnelly from Police Scotland said: "My thoughts are with the woman who showed immense strength in assisting our investigation. I hope this sentencing brings her some form of comfort."