Man who raped his ex partner in Irvine jailed for 10 years
Ryan Graham's victim went on to take her own life after the attack
Last updated 14th Nov 2017
An Ayrshire man who raped his ex-partner while on bail for another sex attack on her has been jailed for 10 years.
Ryan Graham, 27, assaulted the woman at a house in Irvine in March this year.
Days after being granted bail he violently raped her at her house despite conditions not to go near her.
The female tragically took her own life amid the police investigation, but a letter with the harrowing details was discovered in her home.
In it the 34-year-old describes the brutal attack by her former boyfriend.
Graham denied charges and claimed anything that happened between them sexually on the day of the rape, was consensual.
Before the sex assault he told police during an interview when questioned about the first attack “I’m not a beast”.
After a trial at the High Court in Glasgow, Graham from Ayrshire was unanimously convicted of a violent and sexual assault on March 8 and raping the female on March 10, while on bail.
On Tuesday judge Sean Murphy QC jailed Graham - who is now on the sex offenders' register - for a total of 10 years for his crimes.
The judge said: “You have been convicted by the jury of what can only be descried as three appalling offences, committed against the complainer who was very vulnerable for various reasons.”
Graham’s victim’s account was relayed to the court through statements made to police and a heartbreaking letter detailing the brutal rape.
Defence QC Donald Findlay argued unsuccessfully that it was a breach of Graham's human rights that his lawyer was not able to cross examine the victim and said the jury was only being presented by hearsay evidence.
He said: "The trial is unfair to my client. The defence has not been able to challenge the complainer's evidence. The accused's special defence could not be tested."
Mr Findlay said the letter left by the complainer was "moving" but there was nothing to suggest when it had been written.
The judge repelled the argument and said there was evidence of distress on the part of the victim witnesses by others which supported her rape claim.
He said: "There is a sufficiency of evidence for the jury to consider the charges against.
Mr Findlay told the court Graham is still grieving for his ex-partner and still maintains his innocence.