SENTENCING STATEMENTS
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When deciding a sentence, a judge must deal with the offence that the offender has been convicted of, taking into account the unique circumstances of each particular case. The judge will carefully consider the facts that are presented to the Court by both the prosecution and by the defence.
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Read more about victims of crime and sentencing.
HMA v Rapuala Ahmadze
Dec 23, 2025
In delivering sentence, Judge Welsh KC made the following comments:
"Rapuala Ahmadze, you have been convicted by the jury, of serious charges. The most serious is the charge of rape. You gave evidence and were disbelieved in your version of events, as to what happened in Cooper Park, Elgin on 4 August 2024 in relation to the charge of rape. You continue to deny your guilt.
You were unanimously disbelieved by the jury in relation to your defence of consent. You were convicted by the jury, on the basis that you acted in a predatory manner and took advantage of a vulnerable teenager, who was unknown to you and you raped her, in a shocking and violent rape, on rough ground, in Cooper Park.
What happened that night must have been a horrific ordeal for your victim.
The harm you have done is profound and long lasting. A custodial sentence is inevitable.
I have read the contents of the Criminal Justice Social Work Report and I have taken account all the submissions made by your counsel, on your behalf.
I also take into account the contents of the Victim Impact Statement and I note the shocking, overwhelming impact, your violent and brutal abuse has had on your innocent victim.
Your counsel has suggested your attack may have been affected by immaturity and your own personal history.
I do have regard to the Young Persons Sentencing Guidelines
However, on the evidence what you did was motivated by a brutal desire to take sex, irrespective of the consent of your victim.
For the rape offence the law requires that you be placed on the sex offenders register, indefinitely.
The CJSWR suggests that you will be deported from this country at the end of your sentence. That is a matter for the Home Office.
I will impose a Non-Harassment Order for an indefinite period.
The sentence shall be backdated to 12 August 2024.
In respect of this indictment, I shall impose a determinate sentence of 9 years imprisonment."