Mother’s fury as West Lothian truck driver who raped teen daughter at knifepoint in Zante appeals jail sentence

The mother of an 18-year-old bar worker who was raped at knifepoint in Greece has said she wants her daughter’s attacker “to die” - after he appealed his jail sentence, meaning she will have to return to give evidence.

Thomas McLean subjected his victim to a two-ordeal after she finished her shift at the pub in Zante in 2014.

The former truck driver, from Whitburn, was released on bail and returned to Scotland and failed to attend his 2017 trial - but he was found guilty and jailed for ten years.

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McLean, 63, was only extradited to start his sentence in January last year.

Thomas McLean raped the 18-year-old in Zante in 2014.Thomas McLean raped the 18-year-old in Zante in 2014.
Thomas McLean raped the 18-year-old in Zante in 2014.

The Daily Record reports that the young woman’s family have hit out after he lodged an appeal, which means the young woman will have to return to Greece to give evidence.

Speaking to the newspaper the woman’s mother, who can not be named for legal reasons, said: “I never thought I’d ever say this about another human being but I wish he would just die.

“This happened seven years ago and the appeal has just brought everything back up again. It’s a nightmare.”

The mother said there is no new evidence and that they received an email from a lawyer in Greece to say she had received a court summons for her daughter.

She stressed that the family waited three years for the trial and that it also took time to get him extradited, adding: “We fought this tooth and nail and now we can’t believe we’re being faced with an appeal.”

The woman told the newspaper how her daughter started having nightmares at the thought of having to go back to Zante in May to give evidence.

McLean’s trial heard he made inappropriate comments to the woman, which she ignored, and went on to stalk her. He then barged into her flat and carried out a prolonged attack, and the woman was only able to escape after she promised McLean she would not tell anyone about what happened.

A jury dismissed his claims that she had consented to sex.

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The mother said her daughter had to “beg for her life” and described McLean as a “vile human being.”

The victim’s lawyer, Angeliki Petta, told the newspaper she was confident McLean would stay in prison as the case against him is solid.

She highlighted that the Greek system provides anyone sentenced to three months or more the right to appeal without the need to give a specific explanation for why.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesman said: “We have assisted a British man who is now detained in Greece.

“Our consular staff also helped the victim throughout this difficult case, including during her return home to the UK and attending court with her to provide appropriate support.”

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