Rapist jailed for seven years after attacking victims in their sleep

AFife rapist has been jailed for seven years for attacking a sleeping teenager and another woman.

Andrew Brannan assaulted his first victim in 2003 after the 16-year-old had been drinking and he pretended to her mother he would sober her up.

Instead he raped her at a house in Buckhaven.

Brannan, 41, struck again four years later when he attacked another woman, aged 21, at a house in Methil when she was asleep and incapable of consenting.

The accused, of Burns Avenue, Buckhaven, had denied raping the teenager between May and July in 2003 and assaulting and raping the second woman between April 23 and May 31 in 2007.

He was found guilty after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh by a majority verdict.

However, the court heard he continues to deny the charges.

Imposing sentence yesterday, judge Lord Braid, said: “Both offences are aggravated by a breach of trust.

“The first is further aggravated by there having been some degree of planning, and the second by your having told the victim that there was no point in her going to the police because she wouldn’t be believed.

“Those offences are bound to have had an adverse and harmful effect on the victims.

“On any view the gravity of the charges... is such that they demand a significant custodial sentence.”

Defence solicitor advocate Iain Paterson said: “He is entitled to maintain his innocence as he has done.”

He said the father-ofthree was assessed as posing a low risk of similar offending,

The court heard Brannan, who was earlier remanded in custody, has not previously served a jail sentence.

He was also placed on the sex offenders

register for an indefinite period.

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Constable Kenny Watt said: “The young women who agreed to testify against him have shown enormous courage from the time of being approached by the police to having to give evidence in court.

“Their actions mean Brannan will now face the consequences of his actions.

“We hope this outcome will help them and their families to move forward.

“I hope the bravery shown by the victims will encourage others who have suffered to come forward.

“We will thoroughly investigate all reports of sexual offences to bring perpetrators of these crimes to justice.”

Andrew Brannan.