Man who abducted and raped girl, 16, faces life sentence

Published on Wednesday 17 June 2009 22:07

A MAN who held a schoolgirl captive for seven hours and raped her was warned yesterday that he faced a life sentence.

Ryan Smith, 25, snatched the teenager off the street and kept her in his home overnight. She thought about trying to escape, but feared what might happen if he caught her.

He ignored her tears and raped her before allowing her to leave, with a warning that she would be killed if she went to the police.

Last month, Smith, of Whitson Crescent, Edinburgh, appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh and admitted abducting, assaulting and raping the 16-year-old girl on 8 February. The case was continued for background reports, and after considering those, Lord Brailsford said yesterday that he had decided to call for a full risk assessment of Smith – a report required before an order for lifelong restriction is imposed – and deferred sentence again until September.

"My primary concern has to be public safety," said the judge.

The court heard previously that Smith had an alcohol dependency and had received treatment at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, being last discharged in October last year. He had attempted suicide by an overdose and was taking medication for depression at the time of the offence.

The victim had been in a group of friends at Smith's flat. The men were drunk and there was an altercation between Smith and one of the others in the street.

The girl was walking away from the scene when she heard Smith state: "You're dead." He grabbed her by the neck and pushed her against a hedge, and then dragged her into his flat.