STUDENT CONVICTED OF MULTIPLE SEXUAL OFFENCES
A 21-year-old Chinese student has been sentenced to prison after he assaulted an undergraduate woman and forced her to complete his university work during a period of domestic abuse.Ziyi Shi attacked the woman at a student residence in Edinburgh, subjecting her to ongoing sexual assaults.
Despite denying multiple charges during a hearing at the Edinburgh High Court, Shi was convicted of three counts of rape, abusive behavior, and breaching a non-contact order he had signed concerning the victim.
He was taken into custody to await sentencing scheduled for the following month.
Judge Thomas Welsh KC described the case as “distressing” to the jury.
The courtroom was told that Shi’s abusive conduct started in September 2022 and persisted until January 2024.
His actions included making degrading comments about her and criticising her appearance.
On one occasion, he bit her when she refused his sexual advances or to let him examine her phone.
In another incident, he kicked, slapped, and choked her, while also pouring water on her clothing and camera.
Additionally, Shi forced her to complete assignments related to his electronics and electrical engineering course at Edinburgh University, although she was enrolled in a different program.
Between October 2022 and November 2023, Shi sexually assaulted the woman multiple times, including raping her when she was asleep or intoxicated and unable to give consent.
Notably, in March 2023, he attacked her in her residence, removed her underwear, and raped her.
His assault on her continued into late 2023, with another incident in late November or early December where he strangled, slapped, threatened, and raped her.
The victim confided in a student adviser about her fear following these assaults but also stated that they had consensual sex on other occasions.
Judge Welsh told Shi his crimes were "very serious and grave offences." The judge called for the preparation of a background report and risk assessment on the first offender ahead of sentencing him next month.
Shi was suspended by the university after he was charged and was previously granted bail after he surrendered his passport.
He was also placed on the sex offenders' register.
