Man jailed for abduction and rape of girl, 15, in Edinburgh basement

Aaron Strachan was taken to a room littered with rubbish, forced onto a mattress placed on a makeshift bed, and raped. Following the assault, he threatened her, warning that if she told anyone about the attack, he would find and harm her. Strachan’s capture came just days later when police officers spotted him on the street.

Before the rape, Strachan, a former athlete with the Edinburgh Athletic Club, admitted to repeatedly stabbing a man on the hand with a knife, inflicting severe injuries. Additionally, on 28 May, he pleaded guilty to assaulting another man by striking him on the head with a claw hammer, to the extent that the victim’s life was placed in danger. His case was brought before the High Court for sentencing on 13 January, but during the process, he managed to escape from the GEOAmey escort while being transferred to a waiting vehicle.

Strachan confessed to attempting to obstruct justice by breaking free from his handcuffs and fleeing into the Royal Mile, an action that triggered a large-scale manhunt. He was apprehended by police shortly afterwards. Faye Cook, the procurator fiscal responsible for High Court sexual offences, described Strachan’s conduct as “calculated, predatory, and caused profound harm.” She further emphasized, “Although this type of stranger offending is rare, this conviction reflects the gravity of his crimes and the commitment of prosecutors and police to bring him to justice.”

Regarding his sentencing, although the official minimum term is five years, this figure can be misleading. The sentence comes with an order for lifelong restriction (OLR), meaning Strachan could potentially remain incarcerated for decades or even for the rest of his life. Judge Michael O’Grady KC explained, “I consider that in view of the level of risk you present to the public, you are likely to remain in prison for many years, if indeed you are ever released.” The OLR begins with the punishment part, which is the shortest time the offender must serve before being eligible for parole consideration.

The judge provided an unusually detailed explanation about sentencing, noting that the public and victims often misunderstand the meaning of the punishment part. He stressed that the five-year term should not be interpreted as an indication of when Strachan will be released. After this minimum period, any release depends on whether the parole board determines that he no longer poses a risk, and if so, lifelong supervision will continue. Statistics show that of 277 prisoners serving OLRs, only 14 of the 224 who had completed their punishment parts had been released, underscoring the difficulty of obtaining freedom under such an order. Initially, Strachan appeared to take satisfaction in the news of the five-year minimum term, but this perception is likely to change when he fully understands the realities of his sentence

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