THOMAS TAYLOR FROM DUNDEE SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN FORFAR
A man from Dundee, Thomas Taylor, has been sentenced to six years in prison after being convicted of raping a woman in her home.The assault took place after Taylor met the woman for the first time on the day of the attack, having previously connected through an online dating platform.
The incident occurred in Forfar, where the woman resided, and the court proceedings took place at the High Court in Livingston.
During the trial, the court heard that Taylor, aged 40, claimed that the woman had initiated the sexual contact.
However, jurors rejected his account, emphasizing that the evidence pointed to a different sequence of events.
Judge Alistair Watson was highly critical of Taylor’s conduct, describing it as “utterly appalling,” and ordered that he be placed on the sex offenders register for life.
The court was told that Taylor was invited to the woman’s flat as a guest, marking their first face-to-face meeting.
Throughout the evening, the woman repeatedly made it clear that she had no romantic interest in Taylor and did not want to engage in any sexual activity.
Despite her clear communication, Taylor proceeded to assault her while she was asleep.
The woman awoke to find him attacking her and immediately asked, “What are you doing?” Her reaction was one of shock and fear, and she later confided in her sister that she had “just lay there frozen” and felt “unable to move.” Because Taylor had been drinking, the woman allowed him to sleep on her sofa, fearing he might drive home to Dundee if he left.
She had not consumed alcohol herself and had spent the day walking with Taylor in Forfar before they shared pizza at her home.
The court heard that Taylor lodged a special defense claiming that the sexual contact was consensual, but this was rejected by the jury.
On October 11, 2020, Taylor was found guilty of seizing and holding the woman against her will, as well as raping her while she was asleep and unable to give consent.
The court also considered a social work report prior to sentencing.
Taylor, who had been remanded in custody after previously being on bail, appeared via video link at the High Court in Dundee for sentencing.
During the hearing, defense lawyer Andrew Crosbie acknowledged Taylor’s denial of the offense, describing it as opportunistic rather than premeditated.
He also stated that Taylor was aware that the outcome was likely to be a custodial sentence.
Judge Watson addressed Taylor directly, emphasizing the trust the victim had placed in him and her right to feel safe in her own home.
The judge condemned Taylor for blaming the victim and noted that this did him no credit.
The victim’s testimony was described as “eloquent” and “moving,” with the judge highlighting the profound and ongoing impact of the assault on her life.
The court acknowledged the high level of harm caused by Taylor’s actions, as detailed in her victim impact statement.
In addition to his prison sentence, Taylor was ordered to adhere to a 15-year non-harassment order, which prohibits him from approaching or contacting the woman in any way.
After the sentence was announced, Taylor was seen shaking his head as he listened to the court’s decision.
