July 2022

Sex attacker choked teenage girl, 15, until she was unconscious

A sex attacker that raped a 15-year-old girl in woods in Fife after choking her until she was unconscious has been sentenced to eight years. 

Paul Mackenzie told the terrified teenager: “You are going back to sleep until I am finished” when she woke during the attack.

The 21-year-old attacked the girl in a wooded area in Glenrothes on March 30 last year.

He had already raped a 15-year-old boy in September 2019.

He pled guilty to both crimes when he appeared in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow.

He was remanded pending sentencing next month.

The court heard Mackenzie knew the girl but she had believed him when he lied that he was just 16.

They had a row on the day of the attack and the victim walked off towards woods near Gilvenbank Park in Glenrothes.

Dad-of-one Mackenzie followed her, apologised and then repeatedly tried to kiss her.

Prosecutor William Frain-bell said he went on to pester her for sex but she refused.

The scared teenager begged to go home but Mackenzie told her: “You are not going to leave until I am finished.”

The girl said she must have passed out before waking and discovering she was partially clothed.

Mackenzie went on to continue the sex attack after making the “sleep” threat. The court heard the girl also suffered mouth and neck injuries.

Mackenzie denied carrying out the attack when interviewed by police.

Mr Frain-bell said: “He said that he had walked with (the girl)… to her home. He then left and walked alone to the bus station.”

Mackenzie had earlier carried out a sex attack on a boy in woods near Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, on September 7 2019.

MacKenzie, of Dunfermline, appeared for sentence by video link from Polmont Young Offenders’ Institution, Stirlingshire, where he has been on remand since September last year.

He pleaded guilty to raping the boy to his injury, and raping and injuring the girl.