Violent Rapist Escapes Court, May Never Be Released Aaron Strachan, a 21-year-old, escaped from his guards and fled the High Court in Edinburgh before his sentencing for stalking, abducting, and raping a 15-year-old girl. He had previously escaped from a prison van in January. The judge imposed an order for lifelong restriction with a minimum period of five years in custody. Aaron Strachan, a 21-year-old violent rapist, escaped from his guards and fled the High Court in Edinburgh before his sentencing. CCTV footage showed Strachan wriggling off two guards and running away after his sentencing was adjourned. Strachan was about to be sentenced for stalking and abducting a 15-year-old girl, taking her to his basement lair where he raped her. He wore a balaclava when he 'left his lair' and went 'out hunting for a vulnerable victim'. He tracked her to a bus stop, threatened her with a knife, and led her to his filthy basement in York Place, where he dragged his blade down a wall before raping her.Strachan had previously escaped while being led from the Court of Session to a prison van in January. He slipped his cuffs, yanked his hand free, and sprinted off in the direction of the Royal Mile. One guard fell down the court steps, and his colleague couldn't keep up with the escapee. Strachan was later seen on CCTV wearing a blue hoodie.A major police search was launched, and he was recaptured in the city a few hours later. At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Michael O'Grady KC told Strachan that he may never be released from prison. Strachan pleaded guilty to the rape and two assaults, and also attempted to defeat the ends of justice. The violent criminal also stabbed one man in an 'unprovoked' attack on the same day he carried out his abduction.Three days later, he struck again and attacked another man with a hammer. His teenage victim told her mother about the attack, leading to a major police search. Strachan was arrested while hiding behind the bushes in the Dalry area of the city. The hearing was delayed after Strachan escaped from a prison van in January.Judge Michael O'Grady KC imposed an order for lifelong restriction on Strachan with a minimum period of five years in custody. Strachan first approached the 15-year-old girl as she waited at a bus stop in Edinburgh city centre in the early hours of May 25. He stalked her, threatened her at knifepoint, and forcibly led her to the basement on York Place, where he blocked the door with wooden pallets before raping her.After attacking the teenager, Strachan forced his victim to show him her bus pass so he could learn her name and would be able to find her. Judge O'Grady described Strachan's actions as 'truly bestial' and compared them to a 'wild animal stalking its prey'