Rape victim lost her voice after ordeal

A WOMAN who was raped at knifepoint by a stranger who sneakedinto her home was so shocked by her ordeal that she lost the abilityto speak.

John McKeown, 22, who had been drinking lager and snortingcocaine, threatened to kill his 40-year-old victim, as well as anine-year-old boy and a 48-year-old man who were held prisonerduring the sex attack.

Finally, McKeown broke down and started crying before fleeingfrom the house in Livingston, West Lothian.

"He had been in the house holding the victims in abject terrorfor an hour and a half," advocate-depute Gillian Wade, prosecuting,told the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday.

Ms Wade said the woman was too frightened to go out alone forsome time and added: "She lost her voice, which her doctor put downto post traumatic stress."

McKeown of Deanswood Park, Livingston, pleaded guilty to the rapein the early hours of November 6 last year.

He admitted demanding those in the house handed over all mobilephones, yanking out phone and internet cables, holding a knife tothe neck of the 48-year-old man and holding the three against theirwill.

The court heard that the previous evening, McKeown had beendrinking with other members of his family before going on to a localnightclub where he downed four pints of lager and some whisky.

When questioned by police he also confessed to taking cocainebefore picking up a knife from his kitchen and going for a walk.

Ms Wade described how the rape victim's partner had got up earlyand stepped outside to smoke. When he left for work just before 5amhe noticed the side door to the house was open. He shut the door,but did not lock it.

Ten minutes later the 40-year-old woman heard a creaking sound onthe stairs and her bedroom door slowly opened.

She jumped out of bed to see McKeown wearing a white sweatshirtand navy baseball cap and holding a large knife.

As she struggled with him, the 48-year-old man came out of hisbedroom to be told: "Stay where you are or she gets it."

McKeown then said he was a Christian and allowed the woman to geta dressing gown.

He also offered the 48-year-old man a cigarette then joked: "I amnot meaning to be cheeky, but there is a guy in your house with aknife and you are worried about an ashtray."

McKeown kept demanding to know if there were any other mobilephones in the house.

"By this point both witnesses thought that this was a robberygone wrong and genuinely feared for their lives," said Ms Wade.

The 48-year-old man was taken back upstairs and told that ifMcKeown heard his bedroom door open, he would kill the man and theboy.

McKeown took the woman downstairs. Ms Wade said she was"terrified and feeling numb" as she tried to talk to McKeown abouthis family and his girlfriend.

McKeown then laid his knives on a table before sexuallyassaulting her.

Ms Wade said McKeown then put his head in his hands and said"Sorry, I've just done the worst thing," and began to cry. He handedover his knives and said: "Phone the police, I'm done."

In court yesterday, solicitor advocate Ian Bryce, defending,said: "McKeown wishes me to express his deep-seated regret andremorse,"

The lawyer said he realised no apology could come close tosufficing but McKeown had instructed him to say he was sorry.

Judge Lord Stewart called for background reports and remandedMcKeown in custody to await sentence next month.