Rapist facing life sentence after park attack

A convicted rapist who carried out a sex attack on a lone woman in a park after drinking to celebrate his 40 th birthday could face a life sentence.

Dean Stevens followed his victim as she made her way to meet a work colleague and approached her from behind.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard the 26- year- old began to scream and bit her attacker’s fingers.

Stevens, 40, pushed the woman into bushes at Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline , and began running off.

The assault victim began shouting for help but there was no one around early on the Sunday morning.

She could taste blood in her mouth after Stevens scratched her gums when he inserted his fingers.

She got out of the park and made her way home before contacting the police. She was found to have scratches to her mouth, lip and neck.

Detectives spoke to Stevens, who is on the sex offenders register, the following day.

He said he had little recollection of the evening because of the amount he drank.

CCTV footage was recovered which showed Stevens leaving Pittencrieff Park at 6.24am.

Stevens then admitted assaulting the woman with intent to rape her on May 24.

The court heard that Stevens was jailed for six years in 2006 after subjecting a 15-year-old girl to a repeated rape ordeal in Edinburgh.

The Crown made an application for a risk assessment order to be made on Stevens, which can result in the imposition of an Order for Lifelong Restriction.

The judge, Lady Carmichael, called for a background report on Stevens ahead of a further hearing next month.