Would-be sex attacker facing lengthy jail term over Kelvingrove Park assault
A would-be sex attacker is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being convicted of attacking a woman in Glasgow’s west end with the intention of raping her.
A would-be sex attacker is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being convicted of attacking a woman in Glasgow’s west end with the intention of raping her. Steven Arnold, 43, grabbed the 37-year-old student from behind in Kelvingrove Park with a hand over her mouth and pushed her towards trees. He struggled with her and pushed her to the ground before she was able to let out a scream. Arnold ran off from the park on May 30, 2014 and ditched a rucksack he had on him. He never disputed being the woman’s attacker and claimed he was trying to rob her of her mobile phone and there was no sexual element. But the jury at Glasgow Sheriff Court rejected that idea and convicted him of assault with intent to rape. Before the trial, Arnold admitted a charge of failing to turn up to a court date in relation to the case in March 2015. In evidence the victim told the court she was filming the spire of Glasgow University on her mobile from Kelvingrove Park when Arnold grabbed her from behind, covering her mouth. He put a hand on her breast and pushed her from the path towards nearby trees to a muddy area. She struggled with him, tried to turn round to look at him and remove his hand from her mouth. Eventually she managed to scream and he pushed her ran off. The victim broke down as she recalled her ordeal and told the jury “Honestly I think it was an attempt to rape me”. It was suggested that he was trying to steal her phone - which was on full view because she had it up in front of her to film. She told the court: “If he was a thief he’d just take my phone and run away.” Procurator fiscal depute Mark Allan in his speech to the jury urged them to convict Arnold of the assault, with the intention to rape the woman. He said: “She described the way his hand was placed over her mouth, something he did repeatedly she said as she struggled and tried to remove it. “This act was an obvious attempt by him to silence her you may conclude - but why if this was a robbery and his intention to take the phone.” Sheriff Sam Cathcart deferred sentence for reports until next month and told Arnold the likely outcome would be a "substantial" custodial sentence.