Rapist put woman through 90 minutes of abject terror

Feb 10 2011 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A WOMAN who was put through 90 minutes of “abject terror” by a knife-wielding rapist has been praised for her courage by police.

John McKeown, 22, had taken a cocktail of drink and drugs before sneaking into the 40-year-old’s Livingston home in the early hours and raping her at knife-point after threatening to kill her, as well as a nine-year-old child and a 48-year-old man who were held prisoner during the sex attack.

Finally, McKeown, who was a complete stranger to the victim, broke down and started crying before fleeing from the house.

The victim was left so traumatised by her ordeal she lost the ability to speak through post traumatic stress and has been too frightened to go out on her own.

At the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday, McKeown, of Deanswood Park, Livingston, pleaded guilty to the rape in the early hours of November 6 last year.

He also admitted holding a knife to the neck of the 48-year-old man and holding the three against their will.

Afterwards, Detective Inspector Alan Sommerville, who led the inquiry, said: “We would like to commend the woman in particular, for her bravery, and ability to provide a detailed description of her attacker, which helped us trace him a few days later.

“This man has already subjected his victim to a traumatic and sustained attack, and that is something she must live with every day of her life.

“We must also acknowledge the impact this incident had on the other members of the household and hope they can all now begin to move on.”

The court heard that the evening before the attack McKeown had been drinking with members of his family before going on to a nightclub.

When questioned by police he also confessed to taking cocaine before picking up a knife from his kitchen and going for a walk.

Advocate depute Gillian Wade, prosecuting, described how the rape victim’s partner had got up early and stepped outside for a smoke. When he left for work just before 5am he noticed the side door to the house was open.

He shut the door, but did not lock it.

Ten minutes later the 40-year-old woman heard a creaking sound on the stairs and her bedroom door slowly opened.

She jumped out of bed, naked, to see McKeown wearing a white sweat shirt and navy baseball cap and holding a large knife.

As she struggled with him, the 48-year-old man, who shared the house with the couple, came out of his bedroom to be told: “Stay where you are or she gets it.”

McKeown then said he was a Christian and allowed the woman to get a dressing gown.

McKeown demanded they handed over their mobile phones before yanking out phone and internet cables.

“By this point both witnesses thought that this was a robbery gone wrong and genuinely feared for their lives,” said Ms Wade.

The 48-year-old man was sent upstairs and was told that if McKeown heard his bedroom door open, he would kill the man and the child.

McKeown took the woman, who was “terrified and feeling numb”, downstairs.

The beast then laid his knives on a table and ignored her pleas as he raped her.

Afterwards McKeown put his head in his hands and said “Sorry, I’ve just done the worst thing,” and began to cry. He handed over his knives and said: “Phone the police, I’m done.”

In court, solicitor advocate Ian Bryce, defending, said: “McKeown wishes me to express his deep-seated regret and remorse.”

The lawyer said he realised no apology could “come close to sufficing” but McKeown had instructed him to say he was sorry.

Judge Lord Stewart called for background reports and remanded McKeown in custody to await sentence next month.