A convicted rapist who slipped out of handcuffs and bolted from court after being found guilty of abducting and raping a 15-year-old girl has been told he may never be released from prison.
Aaron Strachan, 21, dragged the girl from a bus stop in Edinburgh city centre in the early hours of May 25 last year, threatened her with a knife, and forced her into a cellar on York Place, where he blocked the door with wooden pallets and carried out what a judge called a ‘bestial rape’. CCTV had captured him creeping through the city looking for a victim; he first approached the girl, who felt uneasy and headed towards Princes Street, but he followed her with his face covered by a balaclava. At a second bus stop, he grabbed her by the shoulders and took her to the cellar.
“Rapist Aaron Strachan escaped court after conviction for abducting and raping a 15-year-old, later recaptured.”
Judge Michael O’Grady KC described Strachan’s actions as ‘the stuff of nightmares for every woman and every young girl, and every parent who waits at home for their child to return safely.’ He added: ‘The word predatory is perhaps overused in these courts, but it is an inescapable adjective to describe this truly bestial crime. You left your lair and went out hunting for a vulnerable victim. Finding one, you stalked her, threatened her at knifepoint and took her to a dingy basement and raped her.’
Strachan admitted rape in December 2025 and was given a lifelong restriction – an indeterminate sentence meaning he will not be released until deemed no longer a risk to the public. He must serve at least five years, but Judge O’Grady said he may never be released. After the conviction, as he was being taken to a prison van, Strachan noticed the handcuffs were not tight enough to prevent him removing his hand, slipped out, and ran off. A major search was launched across Edinburgh and he was returned to custody within a few hours. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to attempting to defeat the ends of justice, calling it a ‘moment of impulsiveness’.
The court also heard that on the same day as the rape, Strachan stabbed a man, causing knife wounds to his hands, and three days later attacked another with a hammer, leaving him semi-conscious and suffering seizures. The judge said the attacks were unprovoked and carried out on virtual strangers. Strachan has appeared in court 18 times on 38 charges.
Procurator fiscal Faye Cook said: ‘Although this type of stranger offending is rare, this conviction reflects the gravity of his crimes and the commitment of prosecutors and police to bring him to justice.’ Detective Inspector Gillian Wells added: ‘This was a particularly harrowing attack which was carried out in the busy city centre area and had a profound effect on the young victim. I hope this sentence brings…’
The question hanging over the Edinburgh court is how a man deemed so dangerous could slip his cuffs and flee – even briefly – before being locked away for what could be life.