Rosslyn Chapel rapist facing more jail time after being convicted of sex attacks

Rapist Robert Greens is facing another lengthy jail term after being convicted of sex attacks on a woman.

Greens struck close to the time he set upon a 19-year-old Dutch student at Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian in May 2005 in a crime that shocked the country.

The now 48-year-old was back at the High Court in Glasgow, having denied the latest accusations.

He was previously jailed for ten years for the rape of the student, who was brutally attacked while visiting the historic Rosslyn chapel that featured in the best-selling Dan Brown book “The Da Vinci Code” and film of the novel starring Tom Hanks.

Prosecutors were allowed to lead evidence on that crime during Greens’ trial this week to help corroborate the new allegations.

The 2005 victim had also been listed as a Crown witness, but ultimately did not return to Scotland to testify.

Greens spoke for the first time in open court about that attack, sobbing as he testified and claiming he “deserved” his punishment.

But, he refuted the accusations against the other woman, insisting he had not forced her into having sex.

Greens was found guilty of raping this victim on two occasions between July 1, 2003 and May 26, 2005 at a number of addresses in Midlothian.

He was separately convicted of the repeated physical assault of the woman between March 3, 2000 and May 26, 2005 in Edinburgh, Midlothian and Fort William.

A judge warned Greens that “all options remain open” when he returns to the dock in August.

One could be the possibility of an Order for Lifelong Restriction, which may see Greens never freed.

The indictment stated the rape included the woman being grabbed and her hands pinned above her head.

The assaults involved Greens repeatedly punching the victim, hitting and pushing the female, sitting on top of her and choking her until, at one stage, she was unconscious.

Greens, formerly of Mayfield, Midlothian, gave evidence during his trial.

Speaking initially about the rape of the Dutch gap-year student, who he left so badly hurt a witness afterwards thought she had been in a car accident, Greens told how he admitted to the attack when he appeared in court in 2006.

He stated to his KC Richard Goddard: “I pled guilty because I deserved to take the punishment for the crime that I committed.

“I deserved the time that I got.”

Asked if he has since had time to “reflect” on what he has done, an apparently emotional Greens added: “I am disgusted with myself.

“I have seen the reaction in people’s faces. I hurt an innocent woman.

“I deserved the sentence. When I went to prison, I threw myself into every programme offered. I am sorry.”

Mr Goddard then put to him that he had denied these latest allegations.

The defence advocate said: “You pled guilty and accepted responsibility for what was an utterly horrific crime on a young woman.

“You have tendered not guilty pleas to allegations involving (the woman in this case).”

Greens replied: “Yes, they did not happen.”

He insisted there were no times when this victim was “unwilling” to have sex with him.

Greens: “If there were occasions that she did not want to, I would have to accept that.”

He further claimed he was in a “bad place” at the time he raped the teenager in Rosslyn and that he could have a “temper” – but again claimed he “would never do that” to this woman.

In his closing speech to jurors, prosecutor Chris Jones said the offences with the trial victim were close in time to what happened with the Dutch student.

Describing her ordeal, it was stated she had been spotted with “suspicious, unexplained” bruises.

Mr Jones: “She spoke to frequent violence and episodes of unwanted sex.”

Greens was also said to have admitted to another person that he had hit the woman.

Lord Mulholland deferred sentencing for reports.

He told Greens: “The risk that you pose to the public will be assessed.

“All options are open, as you know, following another conviction for rape.

“You will be remanded in custody. Take him away.”