A woman subjected to a three-violent attack by a convicted rapist managed to escape after texting her friend for help.
Kyler Paterson, 30, put his victim through a three-day ordeal just weeks after being freed from jail in February this year.
She eventually managed to sneak her phone back and messaged a friend begging for help, stating at one stage: “He told me he would kill me”.
In 2016, Paterson was jailed for five years for the rape of a 15-year-old girl in Kirkcaldy, Fife.
The teenager had left a voicemail on a friend’s phone during which she was heard pleading: “Get off, you are raping me”.
Paterson now faces another lengthy jail term after he pleaded guilty to assaulting the woman to her injury and danger of life.
Prosecutor Bill McVicar told the High Court in Glasgow how Paterson had been freed from prison on February 27, 2025.
As well as the rape in 2016, a further three-year and nine-month sentence was later added for a violent offence.
After he was released, Paterson – also known as Coughlan – would often see the woman.
She went to his home in St Andrews, Fife, on March 13.
It was there that Paterson soon took her phone and stated she could only contact her mother.
The next afternoon, he flew into a rage after checking old messages on her mobile.
He branded her “a s***g” and a “prostitute”.
Paterson went on to slap her stating: “You are lucky I did not punch you.”
She tried to leave the room, but he booted her on the back.
Mr McVicar said the woman stayed overnight as she “felt unable to leave”.
The pair went to a restaurant in the town and, when they came back, Paterson turned on her again.
He grabbed her before shoving her head down onto a bed.
The frightened woman went to pack her bags, but Paterson slammed her to the floor.
Mr McVicar said: “He climbed on top, placed both hands around her throat and pressed it.
“This lasted for a minute or two – she was struggling to breathe.”
The woman momentarily got away, but Paterson then lifted her by the neck and slapped her face.
He stated at one point: “I would not usually do this. I have been brought up not to hit women.”
On the morning of March 17, the woman got her phone and hid it in her bag.
She then quickly sent a number of panicked messages to a friend.
In one, she said: “I am scared – he has battered me twice.”
She followed up: “I tried to get out last night after getting lifted off my feet by the throat. He told me that he would kill me.”
Mr McVicar said: “The woman shared her location and her friend contacted 999.”
Police turned up, and the relieved woman met them at the door.
Paterson was later quizzed, but made no comment.
The court heard the woman had some of her hair pulled out as well as injuries to her face and tenderness to her jaw and back.
Lady Haldane continued Paterson’s remand in custody as sentencing was adjourned for reports.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country

SNS Group





















