Teenager Facing Jail for Raping Pensioner

A teenage sex attacker is behind bars after brutally raping a 91 year-old woman in her own home. Kriss Strachan was held after his own mother ordered that he hand himself into police. The 17 year-old later confessed to officers: "I cannot believe I done it. I am a scumbag." Strachan had earlier battered and assaulted the terrified OAP after forcing his way into her home of 40 years in Bellshill, Lanarkshire in July this year. A judge heard how the victim had been "active and independent" before her ordeal - but now regularly talks about wishing she was dead. Strachan - whose mum has now disowned him - admitted to a rape charge at the High Court in Glasgow. The mechanic was remanded in custody and will learn his fate next month. The court heard how Strachan had spent the hours before the sex attack drinking with friends at a party. Around 7am on July 27, the teenager - who lived nearby, but was not known to the woman - suddenly turned up at the widow's door. The victim was in bed, but was awoken by loud knocking. She answered her door thinking it was a relative - but was met by Strachan who stormed in. He pushed the OAP and then demanded that he "wanted sex". Prosecutor Jane Farquharson told how the woman bravely struggled with her attacker and managed to scratch his face. The victim started banging walls hoping to get help, but Strachan told her to shut up or he would kill her. Strachan then grabbed the woman's neck before raining blows on the petrified OAP. The court heard he eventually raped the 91 year-old before walking out of her home. The distressed victim managed to stagger to a neighbour's house where she said: "I have been attacked and he had sex with me." Police were called, but the woman was too traumatised at one point to relive what had happened. Miss Farquharson told the court: "She said she felt dirty and was becoming more and more withdrawn. "She whispered to an officer: 'I just want to die'." The victim also became "extremely anxious" with any men in the room and asked for a female officer to stay beside her. The court heard she was found to have suffered extensive bruising as a result of the attack. Later that morning, Strachan's mum learned of an incident at the old woman's house. She heard the culprit had worn a green top before discovering such an item lying over her couch. The mum confronted her son who was in bed and Strachan immediately sobbed: "I am sorry. I want to hand myself in." She demanded Strachan go with her to a police station, but officers happened to be passing their home and she told the teenager to admit what had gone on. Strachan confessed to them: "It is me you are looking for. I want to kill myself. "I cannot believe that I done that to the old woman. I am f** scum." The court was told Strachan's ashamed mum has had no further contact with her son and has thrown out all his belongings from her home. Miss Farquharson said the victim had been well-known in the local community describing her as "fit both in body and mind". She had also lived in her home for the previous 40 years. But, the victim was left so afraid after what happened, she moved out to stay with her daughter. Miss Farquharson said the old lady now "often expresses her wish to die". Strachan's QC Herbert Kerrigan described what went on as "completely outrageous" in that a pensioner was attacked in the "sanctuary of her own home". Mr Kerrigan also recalled a conversation with the rapist prior to the hearing. Strachan was said to have stated: "No one deserves being put in that position where they feel worthless and dirty. "I regret it and I feel terrible at being there in the first place. I am so sorry." Judge Lord Boyd deferred sentencing until next month for reports.