Rapist filmed repeated assaults on sleeping woman

A rapist who filmed repeated sexual assaults he carried out on a sleeping woman has been jailed for more than eight years.

Mathew Stewart preyed on his victim while she was asleep and incapable of consenting to sex at a house in Livingston, in West Lothian, and recorded the offences for sexual gratification.

Lord Mulholland told the 61-year-old sex offender at the High Court in Edinburgh: “You filmed what you did.”

The judge said it must have been “devastating” for the victim to find out what Stewart had repeatedly done to her during the sexual abuse.

He said the sex offender’s actions were despicable as he filmed his repeated rapes and sexual assaults.

Lord Mulholland ordered the destruction of a laptop computer containing incriminating material after Stewart’s personal information and photos are copied and provided to him.

The judge sentenced Stewart to eight years and two months’ imprisonment and ordered that he should be under supervision for a further three years when he will be on licence and can be returned to jail if he breaches its conditions.

Stewart, formerly of Nigel Rise, Livingston, earlier admitted sexually assaulting and raping the sleeping woman on various occasions between June 2018 and January 2023.

During the attacks Stewart moved the woman’s clothing, molested her, carried out penetrative sex acts and raped her.

Defence counsel Jonathan Crowe said that at the time of the offending it occurred against a background of “significant alcohol being taken”.

He said Stewart’s recollection of events was limited, but he accepted he was fully responsible for the offending.

Mr Crowe said the former forklift driver has long-standing health issues and previously suffered a heart attack.

Stewart was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life following his sentencing.