Man admits raping teenage girl after bus stop abduction

A man has admitted abducting a teenage girl and raping her in an Edinburgh city centre basement.

Aaron Strachan, 20, followed the 15-year-old before pulling a knife on her and marching her through streets in the early hours of 25 May.

After the attack, Strachan - who will be sentenced next month - warned his victim not to tell anyone and threatened to hurt her if she did.

Judge Michael O'Grady KC told the High Court in Edinburgh: "This is the stuff of nightmares for every woman, every young girl and every parent who waits at home for their child to return safe.

"This child did not return safe.

"I have no doubt she returned as a child dreadfully damaged, as a child and a woman who will forever walk in the awful shadow of what you did to her in a dingy cellar."

The judge added the victim's terror could "barely be imagined" and described Strachan's actions as "totally depraved and utterly wicked".

Advocate depute Chris McKenna told the court the 15-year-old girl had spent the evening at a friend's home.

She left and walked along Lothian Road to a bus stop.

Strachan, who was wearing a balaclava, sat down beside her, leaving her feeling uneasy.

The prosecutor said she walked away from him and turned onto Princes Street.

The teenager stopped at a bus stop outside the Marks and Spencer but Strachan ran towards it and came into the bus stop.

He walked up to her and stood in front of her, demanded her phone and warned: "Don't scream."

Strachan then brought out a knife and threatened her.

The court heard he grabbed her by the shoulders and began marching her towards York Place, while frequently covering her eyes.

Once there he forced her down a set of steps.

Mr McKenna said: "She could see a doorway to a basement and over it a broken door and wooden crates.

"He directed her into the space in a gap by the side of the pallets.

"He followed and pulled the pallets across the door to prevent her from leaving. She was terrified."

The prosecutor said the teenager found herself in a rubbish-strewn room with a makeshift bed.

Mr McKenna said: "He instructed her to get onto the mattress and dragged the knife down the wall. This increased her terror."

Strachan demanded that the girl take off her leggings and underwear before grabbing her and raping her.

He then walked her to nearby bins and told her to dump the bedding in them.

Before leaving the teenager Strachan told her: "Don't tell anyone."

He warned that if she did he would find her and hurt her.

Strachan was caught days later in shrubbery in Edinburgh's Dalry.

In court he also admitted two further serious assault charges against two male victims.

The judge adjourned sentence on Strachan, who was placed on the sex offenders register, for an initial background report and risk assessment.

Det Insp Gillian Wells said: "This was a particularly harrowing attack which was carried out in the busy city centre area and had a profound effect on the young victim.

"The other assaults also demonstrate what a violent individual Strachan is, with no consideration of the consequences of his actions."