A sex attacker’s victims will have to wait even longer for him to be punished after the Peterhead predator wasn’t delivered to the dock on time for sentencing.
Ramunas Smitras, a prisoner of HMP Edinburgh, had only reached Dundee when he was actually expected to appear for sentencing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
The transport blunder meant that the 32-year-old former welder’s victims, who woke up expecting some kind of justice to be done that day, have to wait until December 7.
A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “Our understanding is that the vehicle bringing the accused to court was delayed in Dundee, so the case was deferred.
“We appreciate that any delay in the criminal justice system can have an effect on all those involved and we do attempt to minimise delays, however, some delays are outwith the court’s control.”
Sentencing shambles criticised
But the sentencing shambles has been criticised by Rape Crisis Scotland’s chief executive Sandy Brindley, who warned of the “emotional toll” delays could have on survivors.
“People can really build themselves up for a trial or a sentencing date and for it to be postponed at the last minute can be very upsetting and destabilising.
“What we find is that delays in the process and uncertainty over what’s happening can have an absolutely huge impact.
“I think we really must move to a system with much more certainty about what’s happening for complainers and that addresses unnecessary delays.
“They really are causing so much distress to rape survivors that we’re supporting,” she explained.
Smitras was found guilty of sneaking into a Peterhead mum’s home and subjecting her to a terrifying hour-long sexual assault, then targetting a second woman on Prince Street just hours later.
But when his case was called on Friday morning, his defence advocate Drew McKenzie told the court that his client was in Dundee instead of Aberdeen.
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin then deferred sentence on Smitras until Wednesday morning the following week.
On October 20 this year, Smitras was found guilty of attacking the north-east mum as she slept, in the early hours of April 27 2013.
He was also found guilty of sexually assaulting a second woman in Peterhead town centre a few hours later.
During his trial, Smitras’ first victim, now 33, told a jury of her terror after she awoke to find a stranger standing over her bed with his trousers pulled down.
She described her attacker’s actions that day as “so wrong” and said that the assault had “stripped” every part of her.
“I was left feeling like it stripped my identity and there was nothing left,” she told the court. “I felt ashamed and worthless.”
Asked by fiscal depute Lynne MacVicar why she felt it was so important to report the incident, she said: “It was so hard. But I didn’t think it was right that he would get to do this and get away”.
During his trial, Smitras’ first victim told the court how she awoke to find Smitras in her bedroom touching her under her duvet.
She then struggled with Smitras, a Lithuanian national, before breaking free of his grasp and barricading herself in the bathroom.
The 33-year-old woman – who was 24 at the time of the assault – then made a bolt for the front door, but was again grabbed by Smitras.
The pair struggled in her living room and she ended up on the sofa underneath the man, who she said was trying to rape her.
Lithuanian national fled to Germany
The woman said she eventually broke free of her attacker and dashed for the door, escaping into the street.
Smitras then left the woman’s home and walked into Peterhead town centre where he grabbed and sexually assaulted a second woman.
Upon hearing the jury’s majority verdict on both charges, Sheriff Morag McLaughlin told Smitras – who fled to Germany after originally being charged with the crime – that a prison sentence was “likely” to be the outcome.
He’ll find out his fate on Wednesday December 7.
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