Man raped fellow student and forced her to complete his university assignments in campaign of abuse

A man raped a fellow student and forced her to complete his university assignments during a campaign of violent abuse.

Ziyi Shi, 21, attacked the female student and subjected her to repeated sexual abuse at a student accommodation in Edinburgh.

The Chinese citizen had denied a series of charges during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh but was convicted of three crimes of rape, abusive behaviour and breaching an undertaking not to contact the victim. He claimed that sexual activity was consensual.

A judge told Shi after the verdicts: “You have been convicted by the jury of very serious and grave offences.”

Shi, who has been on bail since an initial court appearance, was remanded in custody.

The judge called for the preparation of a background report and risk assessment on the first offender ahead of sentencing him next month.

Shi launched a campaign of abusive conduct towards the victim in September 2022, which continued until January 2024, during which he made derogatory remarks towards her and criticised her appearance.

On one occasion, he bit the woman when she refused to have intercourse with him and to let him examine her mobile phone.

At another time, he repeatedly kicked her on the body, slapped her face, gripped her by the neck and poured water on her clothing and camera.

He also compelled her to complete assignments he was given as an electronics and electrical engineering student at Edinburgh University.

The court heard that the victim was taking a different course.

Shi also subjected the woman to sexual assaults and rapes between October 2022 and November 2023 when the woman was asleep or intoxicated with alcohol and incapable of consenting to sex.

On one occasion in March 2023, he attacked her at the halls of residence, removed her underwear, grabbed hold of her and subjected her to rape.

In another attack on November 30 or December 1 in 2023, he seized the woman by the neck, choked her, repeatedly slapped her face, threatened her and raped her.

The woman told a student adviser that she was scared after being attacked by Shi.

The court heard that Shi was suspended by the university after he was charged and was granted bail after he surrendered his passport.

Shi was placed on the sex offenders’ register.