A man convicted of raping a 19-year-old female student has today been sentenced to eight years in prison and placed on the Sex Offenders Register.
Steven Davidson appeared before Edinburgh High Court having been found guilty of attacking the teenager on the morning of Saturday, November 15, 2014.
She had been making her way home from a party on Niddry Street when the then 22-year-old approached her from behind on Jawbone Walk in the Meadows just before 7am.
She was then forced to the ground and sexually assaulted before Davidson, from Newtongrange, ran off towards the Summerhall area.
A concerned member of the public who found the victim in the park subsequently raised the alarm with police.
Specialist officers from Police Scotland’s Public Protection Unit launched a major investigation, which led to the eventual arrest of Davidson on the 21st of December, 2014.
Following today’s sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Alwyn Bell from the Edinburgh Public Protection Unit based in Fettes said: “I would like to acknowledge the courage and bravery of the victim who has greatly assisted in ensuring that this dangerous predator has been removed from our streets for a considerable length of time. She is determined to overcome the trauma of this incident and the callous actions of Steven Davidson.
“The local community of Edinburgh also played an important role in bringing Steven Davidson to justice by assisting the enquiry team over the course of this investigation.
“I also wish to echo the views expressed by the Sheriff today and recognise the exceptional work carried out by Police Scotland officers who worked tirelessly to ensure Steven Davidson was traced and swiftly arrested for the heinous crime.
“Why he chose to prey on this innocent woman we will probably never fully understand but I hope this sentence will provide some sense of closure to the victim and her family.
“Police Scotland is committed to ensuring people like Steven Davidson are swiftly traced and brought to justice and today’s sentence should demonstrate that such offences will not be tolerated under any circumstance and acts as a deterrent.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
