Jailed for life, man who raped victim later found dead

‘Extremely concerning’

A ‘HIGH risk’ rapist who carried out a sex attack on a vulnerable woman who was found dead hours later has been jailed.

Lars Pedersen, 38, preyed on Alison McAllister as she sat intoxicated beside the Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow.

At the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday, Judge Lord Doherty told him that the circumstances were ‘extremely concerning’.

Pedersen left his victim following the attack and her family reported her missing. He later returned and found the body of the care home worker.

He earlier admitted a charge of assaulting and raping his victim while she was intoxicated and incapable of giving or withholding consent, at the High Court in Glasgow. He did not face a charge over her death.

Prosecutor Owen Mullan said when Pedersen initially came across his victim he thought she was upset and visibly crying.

He claimed he asked her if she was happy to have sex with him.

But he told detectives: ‘She said she was not happy. She started complaining.’

Pedersen, who has previous convictions in England, claimed that when he later returned to the canal path he had found Miss McAllister dead. He told police he had discovered the body but failed to mention having been with her earlier.

Defence counsel Brian McConnachie, QC, said a report prepared by an expert had found that Pedersen was a high risk.

Lord Doherty imposed an Order for Lifelong Restriction on Pedersen for the attack on the 56year-old victim in March 2018.

He said Pedersen must serve a minimum of three years and two months before he can seek release. Pedersen has already served longer on remand.