Lanarkshire man jailed for raping sleeping teen

A Lanarkshire man has been jailed for raping a sleeping teenager.

Luke Brownlie attacked the sleeping 17 year-old at a house in Kilsyth, Lanarkshire in July 2018.

The 19 year-old denied the crime insisting the victim had consented.

But, jurors heard of “damning” texts which helped snare Brownlie.

This included him moaning his life would be “ended” if the victim went to police.

He is now behind bars after being convicted of rape following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

The first offender will be sentenced next month.

The victim had gone to the house in Kilsyth where Brownlie also was.

She ended up falling asleep on a bed – but awoke to find Brownlie having sex with her.

The traumatised teenager got up and left – Brownlie asked did he want him to walk her home.

She was described as “freaking out” and crying. The victim was not able to tell her own mum “face to face” and instead messaged her.

Brownlie later texted the teenager asking had she fallen out with him.

She asked at one stage: “Why did you do it?

He replied: “I don't know. I promise it won't happen again.”

In his closing speech, prosecutor Paul Kearney said: “His apologies you may think were designed to persuade her not to take the action that he knew she was entitled to.”

Brownlie, of Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, also stated: “I guess police will be at my door.”

In another, he whined: “My life will be ended. I need my family. They are all I have got.”

But, his victim replied: “What about me? This is going to f*** with my head.”

Brownlie claimed he knew what happened was “wrong” and that he would “kill” himself.

The teenage girl gathered screenshots of the texts before going to police.

Mr Kearney said the testimony was “utterly compelling”.

He told jurors: ““I suggest when you look at all the evidence you can have absolutely no doubt at all that she was telling you the truth.”

Lord Armstrong remanded Brownlie in custody as sentencing was deferred for reports.

He was also placed on the sex offenders list.

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