Man jailed for life for rape and murder of Kirsty Robertson in Ayr

A man has been jailed for at least 18 years for the rape and murder of a mother in her own home in Ayr.

David Hose, 30, preyed on vulnerable Kirsty Robertson in the early hours of October 20, 2019.

The 29 year-old was discovered that morning lying naked on a couch by neighbours.

Hose was found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow last month, and on Monday sentenced to life behind bars, with a minimum term of 18 years.

"Her children have suffered the loss of their mother"

Prosecutors stated Hose pressed Kirsty's neck, forced her head into a couch leaving her face down causing her breathing to be restricted.

Judge Simon Collins told Hose: "You assaulted and raped Kirsty Robertson in the living room of her home while she was intoxicated with alcohol.

"If that was not appalling enough, her children have suffered the loss of their mother."

Hose and Kirsty had been drinking with friend Shona Harbison, 36, the night before her death.

He had been due to stay the night there.

Shona stated Kirsty was "passed out" on the sofa when she left the house at 1.30am.

Shona was later woken up by Hose later that day at her own house.

The witness told jurors: “He told me that Kirsty was dead and I did not believe him.

Hose claimed Kirsty was alive when he left her house

"I was trying to take it in and understand as I saw her a couple of hours ago and she was fine.”

Jurors were shown a text message Kirsty's friend Stephanie King, 27, was sent by Hose on the morning of her death.

Hose stated: "When I left this morning, I thought she was sleeping but maybe she was dead, I don't know."

The killer later said to her: "I don't know what the f*** happened after I left, I wish I was there.”

Pathologist Dr Julie McAdam - who examined the mum's body - marked the cause of death as "unascertained".

Prosecutors said Hose took advantage of Kirsty who was described as "intoxicated, unconscious and incapable of giving consent".

The killer was also found guilty of raping a woman in 2017

Hose was also convicted of raping a 28 year-old woman after she had also been drinking with the killer at a house in Ayr in June 2017.

The witness said her last memory was watching Ayr United videos on YouTube with him.

Prosecutor Miss MacDonald asked how she felt when she woke up.

The woman replied: “Dizzy and sore, I had not put anything together yet.

“I do not remember anything...how I was in bed or why I was naked.”

The woman stated Hose refused to answer if they had sex and she later told a relative she thought she had been raped.

Hose had been separately convicted of raping a second woman at another house in Ayr in June 2017.

Hose also allegedly raped a third woman between June and December 2018 in Ayr, but jurors returned a not proven verdict on that allegation.

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.