A sex predator who subjected a stranger to a rape ordeal as she was looking for a bus to take her home was jailed for seven years on Friday.
Christopher Pringle carried out the attack on the woman in Edinburgh months after he was freed from a previous jail sentence.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard that the victim was in a public street seeking to get a bus when Pringle came across her.
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A judge said: "She was unknown to you. You persuaded her to leave the street and go up a side street to a secluded area." Lord Ericht said that once there Pringle had "violently raped her".
The judge told Pringle, 43, that a background report prepared on him ahead of sentencing assessed him as posing a medium risk of further sexual and violent offending.
Lord Ericht said: "You have no previous convictions for sexual offences but you have previously served a custodial sentence for domestic violence."
Pringle, formerly of Delta Road, Musselburgh, in East Lothian, had denied assaulting and raping the woman on August 20 in 2020 at Crown Street, in Edinburgh, but was found guilty of the offence.
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During the attack he made sexual remarks to the woman, forced his hand into her underwear, molested her and and orally raped the victim.
Defence solicitor advocate Euan Gosney said Pringle continued to deny he committed the crime. He said: "He continues to deny he has a problematic relationship with alcohol."
"He appreciates that the only appropriate sentence is one of custody and it will require to be a significant sentence, standing the nature and gravity of the offence," he said.
Pringle was told that he will be on the sex offenders' register indefinitely following his sentencing.
Detective Chief Inspector George Calder said: “Pringle’s behaviour was despicable, and he will now face the consequences of his actions.
"It is my sincere hope the courage shown in this case will reassure all victims of sexual violence that they can come forward, no matter how much time has passed, and report it to police. Be assured, we will fully investigate, and you will be supported by officers and our partner agencies.
“This case was brought to a conclusion by the Divisional Rape Investigation Unit, a specialist unit dedicated to robustly and sensitively investigate cases of this nature, bringing perpetrators to justice and supporting victims and their families."
