A former greenkeeper at a St Andrews golf course, who asked a woman why she was crying moments after raping her, has been jailed for 12 years.
Craig Slezas, who is originally from Fort William, was caged after being convicted of sexually assaulting four women during an eight-year campaign of offending.
A court heard how Slezas, 33, raped four females and continues to maintain his innocence.
However, he was convicted of offences committed between January 2008 and January 2016.
Judge Lord Arthurson told him the only sentence available was imprisonment, which will be followed by three years of supervision following his release.
He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
‘Victim blaming’ risk to public
Making reference to a report detailing Slezas’ background, Lord Arthurson said: “You have not demonstrated any insight into your offending nor have you shown any remorse to the complainers.
“During your interview, you engaged in what could be best described as victim blaming.
“I have come to the conclusion that the only appropriate disposal in this case is the imposition of a significant custodial sentence.
“I am very concerned about the risk you pose to the public and especially to women.”
Slezas had faced a total of 24 charges but several were withdrawn by the Crown and he was acquitted of two at the High Court in Edinburgh last month.
Raped crying woman
One of Slezas’ victims told the court of how she felt disgusted by the former Fairmont Hotel greenkeeper’s behaviour.
Describing how he raped her, the woman – now aged 33 – told the trial Slezas ignored her requests not to have sex while at a house in Fife.
She told prosecutor Peter Ferguson KC: “I told him I wasn’t in the mood.
“He kept on trying but I said I wasn’t interested.
“He then proceeded to climb on top of me.”
She said of the rape ordeal: “I just froze. I started crying.
“He got off me and he asked me why I was crying. I just cried.”
Further rapes
Another of Slezas’ victims was a teenage girl who he molested in a car in St Andrews when she was aged 14.
He went on to have unlawful underage sex with her at the town’s Craigtoun park, in a vehicle parked at a layby near Dairsie and at a beach in Fife.
Slezasof Castle Street, Crail, later shouted and swore at her and sexually assaulted and raped her at a house in Ansthruther in Fife on two occasions.
He abducted another woman between January 1 and December 31 2012 at a house in Crail when he locked the door, preventing her from leaving and assaulted her.
He subjected her to a further assault and rape at a house in Cupar.
Slezas raped another woman at a house in Fort William in January 2014.
The victim was threatened and grabbed by the hair and body and throttled.
‘Sole carer’
His final crime was committed in January 2016 when he abducted a woman in a car in Methil, shouted and acted aggressively, refused to stop the car and drove erratically resulting in her hitting the dashboard.
On Tuesday, Slezas’ defence advocate Neil Murray KC told Lord Arthurson his client has learning difficulties and was “effectively” the sole carer for his mother.
He said: “He does not seek to produce any sort of explanation for his behaviour.
“The lack of serious insight maybe the result of his intellectual difficulties.”
