Crown OfficeA man who raped a doctor as she searched for a fast food restaurant following a night out has been jailed for nine years.
Mihai Nicolae Patran attacked the 27-year-old stranger as she walked in Glasgow’s Mitchell Street in the early hours of November 26, 2023.
The traumatised victim eventually escaped partially clothed to the safety of a taxi.
Patran was later arrested – and went on to perform a sex act on himself while sitting in the dock during his first court appearance.
The 34-year-old Romanian first-offender was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday.
He had been found guilty of the crimes following a trial last month.
Crown OfficeJudge Norman McFadyen told Patran: “You are a dangerous man and a danger to women.
“It is hoped you will be deported or removed from the country at the earliest opportunity.
“I have to take into account that, for whatever reason, you are not deported and, in due course, you come to be released from custody and are at liberty here.
“In that event, it seems clear to me the risk you present is such, that the period you be subject to supervision on licence as part of a custodial sententence would not be sufficient for the protection of the public from serious harm.
“It is therefore appropriate to pass an extended sentence.”
As a result, Patran will be supervised for further three years upon any release.
‘I remember saying stop’
The doctor recalled her ordeal from behind screens at the trial last month.
She had not long moved to the city to start work prior to the attack. She said she had been at a house party in the West End.
She became aware of others then discussing going into the city centre. The woman decided to join them, but got delayed leaving and ended up getting a taxi later on her own.
She did not have any contact numbers for the others who had headed out.
The woman got out of the taxi in the city centre – she did not know the time, but realised it was “late” and that bars were likely now closed.
She decided instead to try and find a Taco Bell restaurant to get some food. The doctor eventually walked onto Mitchell Street.
It was there she said her arm was touched and she noticed “a strange man being there”. She said this individual had come out of what she described as an “indent” in the alleyway.
The woman recalled how she “froze” after ending up in this area.
She told prosecutor Greg Farrell: “I think I would describe it as complete disassociation.
“I was just so scared. I think I kind of mentally froze.”
Asked did the person say anything, the woman said it was more “commands”.
The witness: “I remember him using the words ‘f***’ and ‘do it’. Not necessarily together.
“The thing I remember most was the tone. There was an aggression to it.
“There was a commanding nature to it.”
The woman said she ended up on the ground and the man “kind of towering” over her.
She then went to describe being raped to jurors.
“I remember saying ‘stop’,” she said, “I remember being so scared.”
She told jurors how she eventually got away from the attacker and was able to order a taxi which arrived quickly.
Patran – who had no permanent address – was arrested following a police investigation.
He had lodged a special defence during the trial that the young doctor had consented to sex.
Sex act in court
Patran appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court days after the attack.
A female prison custody officer was handcuffed beside him in the dock.
She was left sickened as she spotted the predator groping himself during the hearing.
The woman said: “I was shocked. I did not know what to do, whether to interrupt the court or not. I kind of froze.”
The presiding sheriff was later alerted to what happened and police became involved.
It also emerged Patran had flashed himself to a woman on a train between Perth and Stirling on October 22 2023.
Patran was found guilty of all three charges. He was put on the sex offenders list indefinitely.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
