Jail for man who forced way into OAP home with intent to rape

A man who forced his way into the home of a pensioner with the intention of raping her has been sentenced to seven years in jail.

The case was heard at the High Court in Edinburgh. Picture: Lewis Houghton

Simon Johnston, aged 39, subjected the 71-year-old woman to a violent ordeal, which lasted for several hours, at a property in Kirkcaldy, Fife, in June 2015.

The High Court in Edinburgh was told how Johnston grabbed the woman by the hair and forced her from her kitchen to a bedroom.

On Friday, judge Lady Stacey told Johnston that the only sentence available to the court was a custodial one.

She also ordered that he should be placed under supervision by the authorities for two years following his release from custody.

She added: “You have been convicted of a very serious offence.

“I consider you to be a very serious risk to public safety.

“I must therefore impose a sentence of imprisonment on you.”

Johnston, of Kirkcaldy, was convicted of assault with intent to rape following proceedings at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.

Sentence had been deferred for the court to obtain reports about his character.

During proceedings last month, the court heard how Johnston forced his way into the woman’s house on 20 June last year.

She told the court how Johnston ordered her to shut the windows and instructed her to be quiet.

He then threatened her with a blade.

In her closing speech, prosecution lawyer Susanne Tanner told the jury there was compelling evidence to convict Johnston.

The court heard that her evidence could be corroborated by the fact that she had suffered a total of 28 injuries.

Medical experts concluded that the nature of the injuries suggested that she had been assaulted.

Ms Tanner told jurors: “I suggest that you can conclude that as a witness, she is credible and reliable.”

Lady Stacey also placed Johnston on the Sex Offenders Register.