Judge: ‘Time for you to pay the price’

Convicted rapist Mark Arnott was told he must “pay the price” for his crime as he was sentenced.

The court heard his victim has selfharmed and felt suicidal after her ordeal and has undergone medical tests and sessions with psychologists.

In her victim impact statement, she said it was a daily achievement that she has “survived another day”.

Defence counsel Ronnie Renucci said Arnott initially intended to assault and rob the woman.

Mr Renucci said his client was under the influence of drugs at the time and struggled to cope following his release from an English prison.

He told Lord Mulholland: “To his credit he had found employment in that short period of time but unfortunately he returned to his use of drink and drugs as a coping mechanism. He does very much regret his actions.”

Lord Mulholland gave Arnott an extended sentence of nine and a half years with four years of supervision.

Addressing Arnott, the judge said: “You were released on licence on November 3 from a sentence of four and a half years at Southampton Crown Court for robbery.

“Twenty days later in a public place in Dundee you assaulted and raped a young woman, an 18-year-old woman, a student who came to study in Dundee at one of our great universities. She was a complete stranger.

“As a result of you raping this young woman, she has suffered panic attacks, flashbacks, nightmares, periods of self-harming, suicidal thoughts, difficulty in sleeping, she’s scared of the dark, difficulty in concentrating.

“You inflicted this suffering on her by your actions. It’s time for you to pay the price for your crime.”