Da Vinci rapist wants showdown talks with protest leader

Robert Greens, 34, allegedly told a member of his family to contact the leader of a campaign group which has been demonstrating outside his Midlothian home in order to have him removed.

He has asked to meet with campaign co-ordinator Sharon O’Donnell, although it is not known exactly what he intends to say.

“I was just told that he wants to meet me and I asked what for and was told it was to hear his side of the story,” Ms O’Donnell told the News.

Greens was jailed for ten years in 2006 for the rape of a 19-year-old Dutch student near Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian, the previous year.

A judge described the attack as “one of the worst cases of rape” ever dealt with at the High Court.

Ms O’Donnell, 41, said she felt she would be “too frightened” to meet Greens and failed to grasp what the meeting would achieve.

“To be honest anything he actually says doesn’t interest me because he’s a convicted rapist,” she said.

“I don’t know what can we get out of it anyway. I don’t know what the point would be because it wouldn’t achieve  anything. He can’t turn the clock back.”

News of the invitation emerged as the protest  co-ordinator welcomed a surveillance caravan designed to monitor Greens round-the-clock and ensure protesters have a 24-hour-a-day presence in the area outside his  home yesterday.

She is set to launch a community support group for victims of physical and sexual abuse after being “inundated” with inquiries online.

Dubbed Footprints Scotland and manned by volunteers, the new body aims to provide a “warm, friendly environment” for people to talk about their experiences.

Ms O’Donnell said: “We were gobsmacked with the number of people in Midlothian  contacting us about how they have suffered but feel they can’t tell anybody.

“We wanted to help these people and so are working  to open premises to provide support.

“We have two people trained in counselling and dealing with victims of abuse and can pass on contact details of professional services like Women’s Aid and Rape Crisis should they want them.”

It is understood premises have been secured on Main Street in Newtongrange, with Footsteps Scotland  likely to open by the end  of October.