Man accused of raping woman, flashing on train and sexually assaulting custody officer to stand trial

A man is to stand trial charged with assaulting and raping a woman in a city centre doorway.

Mihai-Nicolae Patran is also accused of flashing on a train, asking another female for sex for cash as well as sexually assaulting a court custody officer.

The 33 year-old – via his KC Donald Findlay – denied the allegations at a hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.

He is said to have raped a woman in the city’s Mitchell Street last November 26.

It is claimed he grabbed her and pulled her into a doorway.

Prosecutors allege Patran stopped her from leaving. He is accused of groping and touching the woman inappropriately before eventually raping her.

The indictment claims she was left injured as a result.

Patran is earlier accused of exposing himself to another woman on a train between Perth and Stirling on October 22 2023.

He then allegedly put a further female in a state of “fear or alarm” amid claims he did “proposition her for sex in exchange for money” in Glasgow’s Buchanan Street on November 25.

Patran is finally charged with sexually assaulting a prison custody officer during a court appearance days later. It includes a claim that he did rub her thigh.

Mr Findlay told the hearing: “He pleads not guilty to the four charges.

“The matter is ready to proceed to trial.”

A special defence of consent has been lodged in connection with the rape accusation.

A Romanian interpreter is likely to be needed for any trial.

Lord Clark set a trial scheduled to begin in October 2025. The case could last around seven days.