HIGH COURT IN EDINBURGH: Intruder carried out sex attack on woman in her Inverness home
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Neighbours were alerted by her screams, the court was told.
Wayne Stewart put his victim in a headlock and dragged her into a bedroom at her flat in Inverness and put a hand over her nose and mouth and pinched her nose, restricting her breathing.
During a struggle with the 21-year-old woman he also grabbed her mobile phone from her hand and threw it before pulling up her skirt.
Unemployed Stewart (42) was today convicted at the High Court in Edinburgh of sexually assaulting the victim with intent to rape her during the attack on March 13 last year, after entering her home uninvited.
The benefit claimant was also found guilty of robbing the woman of her handbag, bank cards and contents at her flat during the incident.
Stewart, currently a prisoner in Inverness, had denied the charges against him.
Following the guilty verdicts trial judge Lord Harrower told Stewart he had been convicted of a serious charge of sexual assault.
During a 999 call to police the woman said: "He was trying rape me – to take advantage of me."
The woman had gone to a Tesco store for pasta and washing detergent but said Stewart had followed her as she returned home and forced entry to her flat.
She said: "As I was walking he started following me."
She said he pushed her and tried to close the door of her flat.
"He tried to take my skirt up and tried to take advantage of me," she told the call operator.
She said she struggled with her attacker, who was wearing a hoodie, but he was "way too strong".
She said luckily neighbours had heard her.
After police arrived she was taken to be examined by a doctor and injuries she had sustained were photographed.
Advocate depute Stewart Ronnie told Lord Harrower that a victim impact statement had been prepared by the woman for the court.
The judge called for a background report to be prepared on Stewart, who has never previously served a prison term, ahead of sentencing next month.
Stewart was remanded in custody meantime and placed on the Sex Offenders' Register.
