Man with 'rape kit' jailed for attacking woman

Maximiliano Moreno was jailed at the High Court in Glasgow

A man who was armed with a "rape kit" when he attacked a woman in broad daylight has been given a life sentence.

Maximiliano Moreno grabbed the 20 year-old stranger from behind as she walked home from work in 2022.

He put his arm around her throat but the woman was able to struggle free during the attack, which took place in woods in Falkirk.

Moreno, 22, admitted assaulting the woman with intent to rape.

Judge Lord Matthews imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction and ordered Moreno to serve a minimum of 32 months in jail. He will not automatically be freed at the end of that sentence.

Moreno was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Terrified victim

The judge said the ordeal could not have been more "nightmarish" for the victim.

Lord Matthews told Moreno: "Although you have pleaded guilty, you have not properly explained why you acted like this."

The High Court in Glasgow was told previously that the terrified victim fled, but tried to capture photos of Moreno on her phone before alerting her family.

The court heard her mother went out in her car to try and find her daughter's attacker.

When she discovered him near the scene, Moreno threatened her with a knife.

Moreno also pled guilty to behaving in a threatening manner, having a knife, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The hearing was told Moreno had been prowling the area in possession of a rucksack, which was later found in nearby bushes.

It contained what prosecutor Angela Gray decsribed as a "rape kit".

Jonathan Crowe KC, defending, said Moreno wanted to apologise to those who were affected by the offences.