An Edinburgh Rapist, Raymond Nyiam, incarcerated for the rapes of two women earlier this year, has been unsuccessful in his attempt to reverse his conviction.
Raymond Nyiam targeted his victims in distinct occasions in March 2017 and November 2018 after encountering them during evenings out in Edinburgh and escorting them to their residences.
He exploited them and executed the assaults while they were inebriated and incapacitated in their beds.
Raymond Nyiam, of Edinburgh, was jailed for seven years in April – but the sex attacker lodged an appeal with the High Court of Justiciary’s Appeal Court to have his conviction and sentence thrown out.
His appeal was based on whether he had ‘reasonable belief’ his victims had consented to sex, claiming it was wrong for the jurors in his trial to be told this was not up for debate.
But Lady Dorrian ruled that this clashed with a claim from Raymond Nyiam’s lawyers during the original trial that his victims had been ‘active and willing participants’.
She also ruled the rapist had said nothing to support the idea that his victims had indicated consent.
The Lord Justice Clerk said of Raymond Nyiam’s appeal: “The appellant said nothing in his evidence to lend any support to this theory and nor did any other witness.
“The appellant himself gave no such evidence, and did not assert…that there were circumstances pointing towards a reasonable belief in consent, or creating room for misunderstanding.”
Lady Dorrian also noted that evidence produced during the trial from Raymond Nyiam’s victims suggested that ‘neither of them would willingly have had intercourse’ with him.
Last year, the High Court in Glasgow heard that his victims had no memory of the attacks and only realised they had been raped after waking up later on.
At the time of his conviction, Detective Inspector Jonny Wright of Police Scotland’s Public Protection Unit for Edinburgh praised his victims’ “tremendous bravery” in coming forward.
DI Wright said: “Raymond Nyiam preyed on the two women following nights out in Edinburgh City Centre.
“Both victims have shown tremendous bravery by coming forward to the police and ensuring that Raymond Nyiam has been held accountable for his actions.
“Raymond Nyiam clearly thought he could get away with this despicable behaviour, however he was very wrong, and I hope this sends a clear message that nobody is above the law.
“I would urge anyone who believes they have been the victim of a sexual crime to contact Police Scotland through 101.”
Raymond Nyiam was jailed for seven years in April at the High Court in Glasgow, where he appeared via videolink.
After serving his sentence, Raymond Nyiam will be released on licence and monitored for three years.
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