An Inverness athlete has been jailed for five years after he raped a young woman.
Daniel McFarlane preyed on the victim at her flat in Glasgow’s Finnieston.
The 23-year-old later contacted a friend to admit he had done “despicable things” – then tried to get him to delete the messages.
McFarlane, of Inverness, denied the crimes claiming any admission of guilt were “false”.
‘A custodial sentence is appropriate’
Jailing him, Judge Lord Scott told McFarlane – who was studying to become a doctor – that he received a lesser sentence due to his age.
He added: “What makes your conduct even more deplorable and puzzling is you had a supportive childhood and were a useful member of society with a bright future ahead of you.
“I have read the victim impact statement which describes at the time, since and the continuing impact on her and her attempted suicide.
“Your long-term damage is unknown but may continue to be significant for the victim.
“Having regard to all the circumstances in this case and the gravity of these charges a custodial sentence is appropriate.”
He was put on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.
The attacks occurred between December 2017 and February 2018.
First offender McFarlane – also a talented amateur athlete – once struck after returning from a competition in Sheffield, Yorkshire.
The young woman went on to state to the attacker: “You cannot keep doing stuff like that.
“I cannot keep forgiving you for things that you have done to me.”
McFarlane was later confronted by a mutual friend in a series of messages.
In one, he claimed: “I did not rape her again.”
McFarlane then further said he knew he had “done things that are despicable”.
His lawyer Lorenzo Alonzi asked: “Why did you say that?”
He replied: “I was just trying to pacify them. They (victim and friend) were saying ‘you are a terrible person’ and I was saying ‘yes, just leave me alone’.”
McFarlane later told jurors that he “regretted” sending such messages as he was “admitting to things that he did not do”.
He insisted he did not rape the victim and asked for messages to be deleted as they were “false admissions”.
McFarlane was initially granted bail after the verdict.
‘He had a perfect life in front of him’
Mr Alonzi told the sentencing McFarlane continues to deny wrongdoing.
The advocate then asked for a non-custodial disposal or a shorter jail term.
Mr Alonzi added: “He wanted to be a doctor and he is never going to be a doctor.
“He had a perfect life in front of him and he now has a High Court conviction and is on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.”
