Man who abducted teenage girl at knifepoint before raping her in 'basement lair' faces life sentence

A man convicted of abducting then raping a teenager in his “basement lair” is facing a possible life sentence.

Aaron Strachan, 21, was told on Tuesday by judge Michael O’Grady KC that he may meet the criteria for an order for lifelong restriction.

The High Court in Edinburgh had earlier heard how the violent criminal stalked his victim before he pulled a knife on her.

The court heard how Strachan then marched her through streets in the early hours of the morning to the place he had chosen to rape her.

After hearing the circumstances of the case, O’Grady said: ”I have no doubt she returned as a child dreadfully damaged, as a child and a woman who will forever walk in the awful shadow of what you did to her in a dingy cellar.

“What followed was truly horrific. You seized her, You produced a knife. You covered her mouth and you dragged her to your lair.”

Sentence on Strachan, of Edinburgh, was then deferred for the court to obtain further reports on his background.

O’Grady said the circumstances of the case left him concerned that Strachan posed a serious risk to public safety.

He said the only course he could take in the circumstances was to have Strachan assessed to see if he meets the criteria for an order of lifelong restriction.

Such an order means Strachan can only be released once the parole board decide he no longer poses a threat to the public.

O’Grady said: “These offences and your previous offending show you to be a young man capable of the most alarming outbursts of significant violence and dreadful acts of premeditated cruelty and sexual depravity.

“It does not take any particular expertise to conclude that you are – and for the forseeable future – will be a deeply dangerous individual to anyone who has the misfortune to attract your anger or your sexual desires.

“You are clearly out of control.

“The crime of rape which you have committed is as disturbing and as wicked as I have seen on these many years on the bench.

“It contains almost every aggravating feature it is possible to imagine.

“To be added to this heady brew, despite your age, you have been convicted on 13 occasions of a variety of offences and in particular have on three times been convicted of significant violence – your weapons of choice in those instances being a knife and hammer.”

At an earlier hearing, prosecutor Chris McKenna told the court that the 15-year-old girl had spent the evening at a friend’s home. She left and walked along Lothian Road to a bus stop to await a bus.

Strachan, who was wearing a balaclava, sat down beside her, leaving her feeling uneasy.

The teenager stopped at a bus stop outside the Marks and Spencer store on Princes Street, but Strachan ran towards it and came into the bus stop. He walked up to her and stood in front of her, demanded her phone and warned: “Don’t scream.”

He brought out a knife and threatened her with violence. He then grabbed her by the shoulders and began marching her towards York Place, frequently covering her eyes.

Once there he forced her down a set of steps into a basement, where Strachan pulled pallets across the door to prevent her from leaving.

The prosecutor said the teenager found herself in a rubbish-strewn room with a makeshift bed, a mattress and sheets.

Mr McKenna said: “She pleaded with him to let her go, but he ignored her. He told her he would not stop ‘until it’s done.'”

After the sex attack, Strachan left but then returned with bags and told the girl to put all the bedding in them and leave. He walked her to nearby bins and told her to dump the bags in them.

Before leaving the teenager Strachan told her: “Don’t tell anyone.” He warned that if she did he would find her and hurt her.

The girl arrived home and later disclosed that she had been raped, that a man had grabbed her, he had a mask and a knife, and told her that if she tried to run, he could run faster and would catch her.

She said he had forced her to show him her bus pass so he knew her name and could find her.

Detectives carried out a search in Edinburgh’s New Town to find the site of the rape attack, which led them to the basement in York Place. Strachan’s DNA and that from the girl were found on a sheet and in the dumped bags.

Strachan was later arrested and admitted to abducting and raping the teenager on May 25, 2025, when he appeared via a video link to prison at the High Court late last year

He also admitted two further serious assault charges. He pleaded guilty to attacking a man at South Bridge, in Edinburgh, by repeatedly striking him on the hand with a knife to his severe injury.

Strachan approached the victim and launched an unprovoked attack on him with the weapon before walking off.

He also admitted assaulting a second man at High Riggs, Tollcross, Edinburgh on May 28 by striking him on the head with a claw hammer to his severe injury, permanent impairment and disfigurement.

The man was sitting on a bench when Strachan approached him and said: “Do you remember me?”. He then pulled out a hammer from his sleeve and struck the victim on the head, leaving him semiconscious.

The victim was taken to hospital and found to have a fractured skull and he underwent surgery. He now needs to take anti-epileptic medication and is in constant pain.

After hearing the circumstances of the case, O’Grady said: ”Those of us who have practised in these courts these many years have to listen daily to the dreadful things that people do to each other.

“But some crimes still retain the power to shock and horrify and what you did that night in May is surely one of them.”

The judge added: “The comparison with a wild animal stalking its prey is inevitable. By chance or design, you came across your victim.”

“You would have seen that she was alone, utterly vulnerable and that she was very young. Precisely because of that you followed her, taking care to conceal yourself.

“And then, as with all predators, you chose a time and place to pounce.”

On Tuesday, Strachan observed proceedings via video link.

O’Grady deferred sentence for the court obtain the report for an order for lifelong restriction.

The case will next call on June 16, 2026.