Mihai Nicolae Patran, 34, attacked the 27-year-old stranger in the street before she fled to a nearby taxi – and then went on to perform a sex act on himself at court
A man convicted of raping a doctor in a late-night street attack went on to perform a sex act on himself while sitting in the dock during his first court appearance.
Mihai Nicolae Patran, 34, cornered the 27-year-old stranger as she walked through Glasgow city centre in the early hours of November 26, 2023. The victim eventually fled to a nearby taxi while naked from the waist down and Patran was later arrested. He was today found guilty of the crimes and faces a lengthy prison sentence. During his first court appearance, Patran was handcuffed beside a female prison custody officer who was left sickened after spotting the predator groping himself during the hearing.
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At Glasgow High Court, Patran’s victim opened up about her ordeal from behind screens, saying she had only recently moved to the city to start work. The doctor had been at a house party that night. She decided to join other partygoers to town, but got delayed leaving and got into a taxi on her own. The woman didn’t have any contact numbers for the group she was intending to meet.
The taxi dropped the victim off in Glasgow’s city centre and she realised bars would likely be closed because it was late. She decided to try and find a Taco Bell restaurant to get some food and eventually walked onto Mitchell Street. It was there she claimed her arm was touched and recalled “a strange man being there”. She said this individual had come out of what she described as an “indent” in the alleyway. She then “froze” after ending up in this area.
She told prosecutor Greg Farrell: “I think I would describe it as complete disassociation. I was just so scared. I think I kind of mentally froze.” Asked if the person said anything, the woman replied it was more “commands”. She said: “I remember him using the words ‘f***’ and ‘do it’. Not necessarily together. The thing I remember most was the tone. There was an aggression to it. There was a commanding nature to it.”
The victim said she ended up on the ground with the man “kind of towering” over her. She then went to describe being raped. The doctor recalled her jeans, underwear and trainers being off, but that she still had on her long coat and T-shirt. Asked by Mr Farrell had she wanted the man to do this, she replied “no”.
The advocate depute said: “Did you say or do anything at the time to let him know that?” The victim replied: “I remember saying ‘stop’. I remember being so scared.” Mr Farrell asked: “Did he stop when you told him to?” The witness replied: “No,” and that she told him to stop “more than once”.
The woman added: “I do not think I could have made it any more apparent that I did not want any of it.” She told jurors how she eventually got away from the attacker. “I remember managing to walk out the bay (the doorway),” she said. “I remember I got my phone and quickly ordered an Uber taxi – thankfully it came quite quickly. I ran down the road. I think I was so clear cut about getting out, I did not take my trousers, pants or anything. I just needed to get home.”
Mr Farrell asked did she speak to the driver. The woman replied: “I have a vague recollection that I said, quite matter of fact, that I had been raped. He asked if I was ‘ok’ and I think I said ‘yeah’. I was just so relieved that I was not in that space any more. I was just so concentrated on getting home – but I was not okay. I think I was in complete shock.” The woman went on to text a friend and her sister about what had happened.
Patran, who had no fixed address, was arrested following an investigation into the attack. He had lodged a special defence during the trial that the young doctor had consented to sex.
During his appearance at Glasgow Sheriff Court days after the attack, a female prison custody officer spotted the predator groping himself. She said: “I was shocked. I did not know what to do, whether to interrupt the court or not. I kind of froze.”
The presiding sheriff was later alerted to what happened and police became involved, Glasgow Live reports. It also emerged Patran had flashed himself to a woman on a train between Perth and Stirling on October 22 2023.
Patran was found guilty of all three charges and placed on the sex offenders register. He remains in custody and is due to be sentenced next month.