Jailed rapist abandons appeal over sentence

Legal source says Dundee man was struggling to find agent to take on case

A rapist who attacked a student in a Dundee car park just weeks after being released from prison has abandoned an appeal against his sentence.

Mark Arnott appeared via video link at the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh yesterday after claiming his nine-and-half-year sentence was “excessive”.

The 37-year-old caused his victim to suffer panic attacks and suicidal thoughts after the assault on West Henderson Wynd in November.

The rape was committed just 20 days after he was released from prison for robbery.

Judge Lord Mulholland jailed Arnott for nine and a half years in July and placed him on licence for four years after his release from prison.

The rapist was also added to the sex offenders register.

Defence Advocate Craig Findlater told the court Arnott had decided to withdraw his appeal on the day of the hearing in front of Lord Menzies and Lord Turnbull.

Arnott, a prisoner at HMP Perth, spoke briefly during the short hearing to confirm he could see the court and that he was agreeing to withdraw his appeal.

A legal source said: “Mr Arnott was struggling to find an agent to run the appeal for him.

“No one wanted to do it.

“He’s been in lengthy discussions and has finally decided to withdraw his appeal.”

Arnott admitted carrying out the attack on his 18-year-old victim when he appeared at the High Court in Glasgow in June.

The court was told that the 18-year-old Dundee University student was seen walking past Arnott as he stood smoking a cigarette.

He was caught on CCTV running up behind her and dragging her into the car park. He warned the teenager he had a knife and would stab her. In a bid to escape his clutches, the brave victim acted as if the attack was consensual.

As she begged Arnott to stop, her cries for help were heard by a group of people leaving Downfield Musical Society and they came to her aid.

Arnott fled the scene but was tracked down three days later before admitting his guilt.

The court was told he had only planned to rob the young medical student and could not explain why he had raped her.

Mark Arnott claimed in court that he believed his nine-and-a-half year sentence was “excessive”.