Rape victim so traumatised she lost the power of speech

John McKeown, 22, yesterday admitted the attack, which left his victim so traumatised that she lost the power of speech.

He threatened to kill the woman before carrying out the attack in the early hours of 6 November last year.

McKeown, who got into the property through an unlocked side door, had forced a man and a young child living at the house to stay in another room while the assault took place.

Immediately after the attack, McKeown started crying and said: "Sorry, I've just done the worst thing."

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how McKeown had been out to a nightclub when he saw the victim's partner outside the house having a cigarette, and crept in at the back of him after he forgot to lock the door.

The man left for work, and the woman, 40, heard creaking on the stairs outside her bedroom. McKeown entered carrying a large knife, and ignored her pleas not to hurt her.

He was "calm but menacing" and she was convinced she was going to be killed.

Although there was another adult and a child, aged nine, also in the house, McKeown raped the woman. He then broke down in tears after the attack and told his victim to phone the police.

McKeown, a kitchen porter with no criminal record, of Deanswood Park, Livingston, West Lothian, admitted the rape on 6 November last year. He will be sentenced next month.

The court was told that at about 4am, the woman's partner went outside to smoke. He returned, and showered, dressed and had a cup of coffee. He left for work at 4:50am and noticed on his way out that he had forgotten to lock the door.

The advocate-depute, Gillian Wade, said that ten minutes later, the woman heard the stairs creaking and saw her bedroom door slowly open. Naked, she jumped out of bed and put on a light.

McKeown, who had been drinking and had taken cocaine, held an eight-inch knife. The woman grabbed the knife, and screamed.

A man, aged 48, who shared the house with the couple, came out of his room, but McKeown warned: "Stay where you are or she gets it. I will kill her and I will kill you."

He was told there was a nine-year-old boy in the house, and he had a conversation with the child.

He allowed the woman to put on a robe, telling her he was a Christian.

McKeown lit two cigarettes and gave one to the man. The man asked if he could fetch an ashtray, and McKeown cracked a joke, saying: "Look, mate, I'm not meaning to be cheeky, but there is a guy in your house with a knife and you're worried about an ashtray!"

McKeown held the knife to the man's throat.He and the woman thought it was a robbery gone wrong, but when the man pointed out items for McKeown to steal, he ignored them.

"This heightened the thought they were to die," said Ms Wade.McKeown ordered the man into a bedroom with the boy. He and the woman were in the living-room, and he now had two knives.

"She was terrified and feeling numb, but attempted to engage the accused in conversation. She pleaded with him not to do it. However, he ignored her," said Ms Wade.

After raping the woman, McKeown put his head in his hands and began crying. He said: "Sorry, I've just done the worst thing."

He handed the knives to the woman, and said to phone the police. She was "extremely upset and emotional" and told him just to go.

"The accused, having left the house, went home. He had been in the house holding the victims in abject terror for an hour and a half," said Ms Wade.

He was traced by the police and initially denied involvement, but finally made a tearful confession. He said he felt terrible for what he had done.

Ms Wade said: "The complainer states that the accused was calm throughout but menacing to the extent that she was sure she and the other witnesses were going to be killed.

"She describes how this incident has affected her everyday life… she was nervous at home for quite some time afterwards and could not leave the house alone.

"She lost her voice, which her doctor put down to post-traumatic stress. Her boyfriend blamed himself for leaving the door open."

The defence solicitor-advocate, Ian Bryce, said McKeown wanted to express his deep-seated regret and remorse.

Mr Bryce added: "He realises no apology ever comes close to sufficing in such circumstances, but I am instructed to make such an apology."