Rape-kit man begins life sentence for sex attack

A SEX attacker who carried a "rape kit" was today beginning a life jail sentence after he hit a woman over the head with a shovel and indecently assaulted her.

Allan Roberts, 42, appeared in court without a criminal record but a judge was told that he had previously stalked a young woman but was put into a diversion from prosecution scheme.

Roberts completed a programme aimed at curbing offending but then carried out the attack on the woman in Musselburgh, in East Lothian, on May 9 this year.

He revealed to a psychologist that he had violent sexual fantasies involving attacks on women who were strangers and became angry and upset as they were raped.

The former supermarket worker also disclosed that he had previously been walking around the town of Haddington, in East Lothian, with what he described as his rape kit, consisting of a mask, pillow case and ties, searching for a victim.

Lord Reed told Roberts at the High Court in Edinburgh that the circumstances were "unusual and very worrying" and he would impose a discretionary life sentence in the case.

Roberts, of Davidson Place, Haddington, was earlier placed on the sex offenders’ register after admitting attacking the woman in Musselburgh.

He was originally charged with carrying out the attack with intent to rape her but the Crown accepted that should be deleted when he pled guilty to a reduced charge.