Intruder raped woman at her home in Edinburgh after breaking through door as she watched TV

A violent intruder subjected a 61-year-old woman to a rape ordeal after kicking his way into her home through a French door.

Bradley Shand threw the woman around like “a rag doll” during the assault, which took place after he was freed under three court bail orders and had five court cases pending.

The 23-year-old denied raping the woman on January 9, 2023, at a house in the Murrayfield area of Edinburgh but was found guilty of the offence at the High Court on Tuesday.

The court heard that the woman was watching TV when she heard a banging noise. She went to investigate and found a male kicking glass in the door and smashing it.

Shand entered the woman’s home through the broken door and grabbed a phone from her.

He went on to subject the woman to a serious sexual assault during which he was injured.

The distressed victim went to the home of a neighbour with blood on her face and a dressing gown.

The neighbour said: “She was obviously upset, shaken, questioning herself ‘What did I do?’.”

The victim said: “He was throwing me about like a rag doll. I don’t feel safe any more. I sit downstairs and it brings back all the memories. I feel numb.”

Shand went on to commit a further offence on the same date when he threw a boulder and stone garden ornament and smashed a window at the home of a couple in the Corstorphine area of the city after demanding they hand over car keys.

He admitted attempting to rob them of a set of car keys and a motor car.

Shand was placed on the sex offenders’ register, and his remand in custody was continued while a background report was prepared on him ahead of sentencing.

The trial judge, Lord Summers, told him: “You were convicted unanimously by the jury of a brutal rape and assault and for that you may expect to receive a substantial custodial sentence.”