ABERDEEN SEXUAL PREDATOR DANIEL TEGLAS SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN PRISON
In December 2019, the city of Aberdeen was shaken by a heinous crime involving a sexual assault that left the community in distress.Daniel Teglas, a man originally from Romania, was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman on the roof of a prominent shopping center in Aberdeen, an incident that has since garnered widespread condemnation.
At the time of the attack, Teglas had only recently arrived in the United Kingdom, having moved to the country just a few weeks prior.
His arrival was marked by a series of troubling behaviors, culminating in the brutal assault that took place on the evening of July 26.
The victim, who had been out with friends in Aberdeen’s bustling pubs and clubs, became separated from her group and was left vulnerable after consuming alcohol and becoming intoxicated.
According to court proceedings, Teglas, who was then 20 years old and a father of two, was seen begging on the streets of Aberdeen before he targeted the young woman.
He approached her in an apparently predatory manner, asking, “You OK?” before quickly grabbing her by the arm and forcibly taking her to the top deck of the Bon Accord Centre, a well-known shopping destination in the city.
CCTV footage captured part of the assault, showing Teglas dragging the intoxicated woman into a secluded area where he proceeded to commit the rape.
Witnesses and members of the public found the victim later in a flower bed, distraught and in pain, after Teglas had abandoned her.
The young woman’s legs were described as feeling “like wet spaghetti,” and she was seen to go limp in Teglas’s arms, unable to support herself.
The incident was so severe that it was partially recorded by city center CCTV cameras, providing crucial evidence for the case.
During the sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow, Judge Gordon Liddle did not hold back in condemning Teglas.
He described him as “a vile predator” and emphasized the brutality of the crime.
The judge pointed out that the victim was in no condition to defend herself, having been intoxicated at the time, and criticized Teglas for showing no remorse.
Instead, he was observed smiling as he was led away from the dock to begin his six-year prison sentence.
The victim, present in court, shouted at Teglas, “Don’t smile at me,” as he was taken away.
Prosecutor Sean Smith QC recounted that Teglas had approached the young woman and asked if she was “OK,” before quickly assaulting her.
He described how Teglas threw her into bushes and raped her, with CCTV footage showing her legs buckling under her weight.
The victim later described feeling as if her legs were “wet spaghetti,” and that she went limp in Teglas’s arms, akin to a “rag doll.” Teglas’s criminal history includes a previous conviction for a similar offense—an offence related to theft by housebreaking committed in France.
He arrived in the UK with his wife and family in June of the same year.
Following the attack, police traced him to an address on George Street in Aberdeen.
He was subsequently taken into custody at Kittybrewster police station, where a forensic medical examiner questioned him about his last sexual encounter.
Teglas admitted that he last had sex at around 4 a.m.
with the girl involved in the assault.
When asked if he felt guilt or remorse, he responded affirmatively, though his actions and attitude throughout the case painted a different picture.
Judge Liddle concluded by condemning Teglas’s actions, stating that the crime was “a woman’s nightmare” and expressing hope that the residents of Aberdeen could find some peace knowing that he was behind bars.
The community’s sense of safety was undoubtedly shaken by this incident, but the court’s decision aimed to restore a sense of justice and security for the people of Aberdeen.
