‘Toxic’ relationship ended in brutal attack

Jurors in Stephen Graham’s rape trial at the High Court in Livingston heard gruelling evidence of the couple’s brief “toxic” relationship.

It included graphic recollections of Carin’s terrifying eight-hour ordeal in Graham’s Markinch flat.

She told the court Graham pounced as she was putting something in the bin outside her home, knocking her out, and of awaking on his sofa with a bump on the back of her head.

Controlling Graham demanded she unlock her mobile phone so he could read her messages then accused her of cheating on him.

He then followed her into the bathroom, where he punched her nose before holding a kitchen knife less than an inch from her chest.

Sobbing, Carin recalled how Graham repeatedly threatened to murder her as she stood trembling in the bath.

He then forced her into his bedroom, where he stripped and raped her.

She only managed to escape with his car keys after he fell asleep on top of her.

Carin’s grandmother, 71, relived the moment her bruised and battered granddaughter turned up at her house around lunchtime on February 25.

She said: “She was crying hysterically and she had blood all over her face so I took her into the house and I asked her what had happened to her. She was shaking and very upset.

“I said to her: ‘Who did that to you?’ and she said: ‘He did this to me. He’s raped me’.”

The gran called a friend who lived nearby and police arrived within minutes.

During the trial at the High Court in Livingston, the victim described Graham as “possessive” and said he continually harassed her.

She said: “If I didn’t answer his messages I’d get 20 calls. If I didn’t answer he’d turn up at my door at stupid o’clock.

“It was stalking, more like harassment.”

The jury took just over three hours to find Graham guilty.

Stephen Graham beat and raped his victim.