Woman battered rapist with ironing board, court told

The woman lashed out at Richard Smith who pounced while she was asleep at a flat in Edinburgh’s Dalry.

The sex assault happened after the pair and others had enjoyed a night out at the capital’s trendy Lulu nightclub.

A judge heard Smith being described as “quite chilled” following his attack.

The 26 year-old is now behind bars after being convicted of rape.

Smith, of Slateford, Edinburgh, looked shocked as he was led handcuffed to the cells. He will sentenced next month.

A jury was told how the attack happened on August 2 2014.

Smith was part of a group who had returned to the Dalry flat after a boozy night at the upmarket Lulu club.

The rapist worked there at the time as a barman.

After arriving, Smith continued drinking while showing off magic tricks to others in the flat.

The High Court in Glasgow heard he later went to one of the bedrooms apparently planning to go to sleep.

But the 30 year-old victim was already snoozing in there.

Smith then took advantage of the sleeping woman by sneaking into bed beside her.

He began molesting her before turning the woman over and having sex with her.

The jury heard the victim went “ballistic” when she realised what was happening.

One witness – who knew both the woman and her attacker – recalled “screaming and shouting” coming from the room.

She told the court: “When the door was opened, Richard seemed to be cowering in the corner and she was battering him with an ironing board.

“She was hysterical and screaming ‘get out, get out’.”

The crying victim eventually revealed Smith had “touched” her.

The court heard Smith appeared “quite chilled” despite what had happened – and went back to bed.

Police were forced to rouse him awake when they later attended at the flat that morning.

Smith gave evidence during the trial and claimed there had been consensual sexual activity – but denied having full intercourse with the woman.

Recalling the victim then reacting hysterically, Smith said: “I tried to get her to calm down, but could not.

“She was throwing stuff – I was like: ‘what are you doing?’ I really had no idea.”

Prosecutor Peter McCormack later quizzed Smith on why he had denied to friends that he had “touched” the woman.

Mr McCormack put to him: “One explanation is that your version of events is not true.

“You simply had not made up your story at that time.”

Smith replied: “No.”

Judge Lord McEwan deferred sentencing until March 16 in Edinburgh.

First offender Smith - who no longer works at the nightclub - was meantime put on the sex offenders list.

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