A man described as “depraved” has been sentenced to nine years in prison for raping a doctor in a city center alley for 40 minutes. Mihae-Nicolae Patran, 34, attacked the 27-year-old victim as she took a shortcut through Mitchell Street in Glasgow on November 26, 2023. The victim, who was unknown to Patran, managed to escape to a nearby taxi while partially undressed, leading to Patran’s subsequent arrest. Prior to this incident, Patran had been apprehended for indecent exposure to a woman on a train.
During his initial court appearance, Patran engaged in lewd behavior while in the dock. Judge N McFadyen emphasized Patran’s threat to women and sentenced him at Glasgow High Court to a 12-year extended term, comprising nine years in prison and three years of supervision upon release. The judge expressed hope for Patran’s deportation to Romania and his indefinite registration as a sex offender.
In addressing Patran, Judge McFadyen recounted the victim’s ordeal, labeling it as a prolonged, degrading, and sordid rape over the 40-minute period in the alley. The judge highlighted Patran’s prior convictions for sexual offenses against female strangers within a short timeframe in 2023, condemning his actions as “depraved and degenerate” and underscoring his dangerous nature, particularly towards women.
Representing Patran, Donald Findlay KC stated that his client maintains his innocence and offers no apology or remorse to the court. Findlay mentioned Patran’s potential desire to return to Romania due to limited ties in Scotland. Faye Cook, Procurator Fiscal for High Court Sexual Offences, described Patran as a significant threat to women, emphasizing his pattern of high-risk sexual opportunism. Cook commended the victims for their courage and the multiple evidential strands, including CCTV footage, supporting their accounts.
The successful prosecution aims to bring accountability and comfort to the victims, with Cook affirming a zero-tolerance stance towards such stranger offenses. Scotland’s prosecutors stand united in supporting those impacted by such crimes to ensure justice is served.