West Lothian rapist who attacked a teenager on Greek holiday island to begin prison sentence

Thomas McLean viciously attacked an 18-year-old six years ago

A West Lothian man who raped a teenager in Greece six years ago will today be extradited to the country to begin his prison sentence.

Former lorry driver Thomas McLean, 62, originally from Whitburn inflicted the prolonged and violent knifepoint attack after following the 18-year-old home from her summer bar job in Zante in 2014.

His victim who is now 23, told STV News: “I am so relieved that after all this time he is finally going to prison where he won’t be able to hurt anyone else.

“His extradition today does not make up for what he did or the length of time this has taken although it is some kind of justice.

“I will never get back these lost years but now he’s behind bars, I’m determined to rebuild my life. Throughout this time, the support from my mum and family has been incredible.”

McLean was released on bail and returned to Scotland but in 2017 he failed to attend his trial in the city of Patras, Greece which resulted in a guilty verdict and a ten-year prison sentence.

The Crown Office sought to extradite the attacker but the process faced several delays before being granted last month at Edinburgh’s Sheriff Court.

It was originally planned he would be transferred to Greece on Christmas Eve, though he was been remanded since the extradition was granted.

Today he was escorted by police from Scotland to Greece where he will serve his sentence in a Tripoli prison.

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, overcrowding is a problem in Greek prisons and inmates can usually apply for parole after serving two-fifths of their sentence.

Greece adheres to an international agreement which would allow McLean to apply to serve some of his sentence in the UK.