A man has been convicted of raping a doctor in a late-night attack.
Mihai Nicolae Patran pounced on the 27-year-old stranger as she walked on Glasgow’s Mitchell Street in the early hours of November 26, 2023.
The victim eventually escaped naked from the waist down to the safety of a taxi.
Patran was later arrested and went on to perform a sex act on himself while sitting in the dock during his first court appearance.
The 34-year-old first offender from Romania now faces a lengthy jail term after being found guilty of the crimes.
The doctor recalled her ordeal from behind screens at the trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
She had not long moved to the city to start work prior to the attack.
The witness told how she had been at a house party in the West End and had become aware of others discussing going into town.
The woman decided to join them, but got delayed leaving and ended up getting a taxi later on her own.
She did not have any contact numbers for the others who had headed out.
The woman got out of the taxi in the city centre – she did not know the time, but realised it was “late” and that bars were likely now closed.
She decided instead to try and find a Taco Bell restaurant to get some food. The doctor eventually walked onto Mitchell Street.
It was there that she claimed her arm was touched and “just like a strange man being there”.
She said this individual had come out of what she described as an “indent” in the alleyway.
The woman recalled how she “froze” after ending up in this area.
She told prosecutor Greg Farrell: “I think I would describe it as complete disassociation.
“I was just so scared. I think I kind of mentally froze.”
Asked if the person said anything, the woman said it was more “commands”.
The witness: “I remember him using the words ‘f***’ and ‘do it’. Not necessarily together.
“The thing I remember most was the tone. There was an aggression to it.
“There was a commanding nature to it.”
The woman claimed she ended up on the ground, and the man was “kind of towering” over her.
She then went on to describe to jurors the alleged rape.
The doctor recalled her jeans, underwear and trainers being off, but that she still had on her long coat and T-shirt.
Asked by Mr Farrell if she wanted the man to do this, she replied “no”.
The advocate depute asked: “Did you say or do anything at the time to let him know that?”
She stated: “I remember saying ‘stop’. I remember being so scared.”
Mr Farrell asked: “Did he stop when you told him to?”
The witness replied: “No.”
She said it was “more than once” that she told him to stop.
The woman said: “I do not think I could have made it any more apparent that I did not want any of it.”
She told jurors how she eventually got away from the attacker.
The doctor said: “I remember managing to walk out the bay (the doorway).
“I remember I got my phone and quickly ordered an Uber taxi – thankfully, it came quite quickly.
“I ran down the road. I think I was so clear cut about getting out, I did not take my trousers, pants or anything. I just needed to get home.”
Mr Farrell asked if she spoke to the driver.
The woman said: “I have a vague recollection that I said, quite matter-of-factly, that I had been raped.
“He asked if I was ‘ok’ and I think I said ‘yeah’. I was just so relieved that I was not in that space any more.
“I was just so concentrated on getting home, but I was not okay. I think I was in complete shock.”
The woman went on to text a friend and her sister what had happened.
Patran – who had no permanent address – was arrested following a probe into the attack.
He had lodged a special defence during the trial that the young doctor had consented to sex.
He appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court days after the attack.
A female prison custody officer was handcuffed beside Patran in the dock.
She was left sickened as she spotted the predator groping himself during the hearing.
The woman said: “I was shocked. I did not know what to do, whether to interrupt the court or not. I kind of froze.”
The presiding sheriff was later alerted to what happened, and police became involved.
It also emerged Patran had flashed himself to a woman on a train between Perth and Stirling on October 22, 2023.
Patran was found guilty of all three charges.
He remains in custody and was put on the sex offenders list pending sentencing next month.
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