Man who dragged schoolgirl into Edinburgh woods and raped her in 'devastating' attack jailed

A high-risk sex attacker who dragged a schoolgirl into woods and subjected her to a “devastating” rape ordeal has been jailed for eight years.

Drink and drug fuelled Valentin Tica, 24, insisted on walking his victim home after meeting her in Edinburgh and offered her drugs before launching the appalling assault on the 13-year-old child.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that Tica faces deportation to his Romanian homeland at the end of his jail sentence where he faces a further 12-month prison term for assault.

A judge told him: “You have pled guilty to rape of a 13-year-old schoolgirl. You were aged 22 at the time.”

Lord Ericht said: “Your victim was sitting with a friend on a bench on a path near a wood and a hill. You came and sat beside them.

“When the friend left, you insisted on chumming your victim towards her home, even though she did not want you to do so. On the way, you dragged her into the woods and raped her,” said the judge.

He pointed out that a background report on Tica ahead of sentencing assessed him as presenting a high risk of harm.

Lord Ericht said that Tica’s previous convictions in Scotland were of a minor nature and were not for sex offending.

The judge said: “I have also had the benefit of a victim impact statement from your victim’s mother which speaks eloquently of the devastating effect you have had on her daughter’s life.”

He imposed a non harassment order prohibiting Tica from contacting or attempting to contact the girl for an indefinite period.

Tica, a prisoner in Edinburgh’s Saughton jail, earlier admitted attacking and raping the schoolgirl on November 3, 2023.

During the assault he made sexual remarks to the child victim, grabbed and pushed her and molested her before he seized her by the body and hair and pulled her into bushes and raped her.

Tica’s defence counsel Ian Duguid KC said that he previously met the girl in the street and thought she was 16.

He said: “As far as the accused is concerned he was not aware that she was of such a young age.”

The defence counsel said: “The sentence which he faces in this case is undoubtedly going to be a substantial one.”

Mr Duguid told the court: “The report indicates that he is apologetic about his conduct. He says that he was affected by drugs and alcohol which he had consumed.”

He said he understood that Tica had offered the girl cannabis.

The defence counsel said that Tica was facing deportation following the completion of his prison sentence for the rape and a further jail term awaited him in Romania.

Mr Duguid said: “He has a 12-month sentence following the commission of an assault in the course of a fight. I understand that is the information contained on the application for extradition by the Romanian authorities. It is not a previous sexual incident.”

Tica, who was living in Edinburgh at the time of the sex attack, followed the court proceedings with the aid of a Romanian interpreter.

Detective inspector Keith Taylor said: “Tica will now face the consequences of his despicable actions in prison.

“I would like to commend the victim for her strength during the investigation, and I hope today’s sentencing brings some sense of closure.

“We would encourage anyone who has experienced any form of violent or sexual offence, regardless of when it happened, to report it to us. We will investigate thoroughly and have specially trained officers and partner agencies who will support you throughout.”